Puritanism began in England around the 1500s. They believed that the reforms of the Church of England did not go far enough and decided to set sail towards America in the 1600s. Eventually, they settled in the Massachusetts Bay colony, freely practicing their religion. Puritans were Calvinists and believed in predestination, which is the belief that God is all powerful and knows everyone’s fate at birth. Nothing an individual could do or say would change their fate. Puritans believed that God will choose the individuals, which were called the elect, that would be saved and at that point, would undergo “conversion.” During conversion, the elect would be told by God that they were saved. They also believed that they were doing God’s work and anyone who would defy God’s laws was subject to harsh punishments. These Puritan Calvinists not only believed in individual salvation but also in the spiritual health of the community as a whole. As time passed by, Church membership began to decline because the Puritans had set their standards so high that it was not possible for many to achieve conversion. They then turned to alcohol, lying, sexual behavior, which were the common vices of that time.
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