The puritans

Oliver Cromwell was a committed Puritan, and as head of state he instituted many Puritan
reforms. Puritanism had begun under Henry VIII but came into prominence in the 17th century. It
was a religious reform movement that wanted to 'purify' the Church of England, which they felt
retained too much from Catholicism. Their sense of moral conviction informed their whole way of
life, and they wanted their lifestyle to transform the nation. Religious unity was considered
essential to the walfare pf society, and an interest in theological controversy and religious topics
was common in all classes of society.

The church was an auditorium where the pulpit and sermons took on a political as well as religious
significance, reaching an even wider audience by being published. Similar to Catholicism,
Anglicanism stressed the external manifestations of faith like the beauty of the churches and their
altars. It also supported a traditional hierarchy within the Church, in particular the bishops.
The Puritans, however, criticised these ecclesiastical rituals and outlook. They rejected scholarly
interpretations of the Scriptures and claimed the right of the individual to comprehend God's will
from reading the Bible. They argued that priests should be free to choose how to dress, and that
the clergy should be distinguished by their behaviour and not by special clothing.

The movement, which was particularly strong in London and the south-west, had followers among
the clergy and the nobles, but especially among merchants and professional classes and the
Members of Parliament. They believed in the Calvinist theory of predestination, which says that
everything that happens has been decided or planned in advance by God or by fate and that
humans cannot change it. According to this doctrine, all men are born sinners and therefore
condemned to damnation. Only God's grace can save man. This means that man is required not
only to preform good individual acts but to live a holy life of hard work and discipline. Poverty was
almost considered a sin and leisure was thought to be a waste of true that could corrupt men's
minds.
Riassunto:

Oliver Cromwell, a devoted Puritan, introduced many Puritan reforms as head of state.
Puritanism, which began under Henry VIII and became prominent in the 17th century, was a
religious reform movement aimed at "purifying" the Church of England from Catholic influences.
The Puritans emphasized the importance of religious unity and saw their moral convictions as
essential for society.

They criticized the ecclesiastical rituals of Anglicanism, favoring a personal approach to

understanding God's will through reading the Bible. The movement was particularly strong in
London and the southwest, with supporters among the clergy, nobility, merchants,
professionals, and members of Parliament.

They believed in Calvinist predestination, which stated that everything is predetermined by God
and that only divine grace can save man. Consequently, they promoted a life of hard work and
discipline, viewing poverty as almost sinful and leisure time as a waste that could corrupt the
mind.