The Puritan Dilemma
Term Paper for AMH4311 with Dr. Crepeau
04 October 2005
The Puritan dilemma is very simple; that is, "the paradox that required a man to live in the world without being of it," according to Edmund S. Morgan, the author of the text. John Winthrop embodies the ideal Puritan because his life perfectly represents the struggle of being a Puritan in his problem of being involved in aspects of the mundane world but not allowing those aspects to taint his religious goals and beliefs, or as Morgan states, “there was no escape from the dung heap of this earth; and that those who sought one or thought they had found it acted with an unholy, not a holy, violence.” (116) Winthrop was aware of this through his time in England, and therefore strove to be on the earth but not of it. Winthrop was the perfect person to govern the colony, as he was lenient but still logical and involved in his community. Though various people became threats to the colony (Henry Vane, Roger Williams, and Anne Hutchinson to name a few), Winthrop still prevailed. At least until other forces undermined the colony, but that was something that no one could change.
The Puritan dilemma was a simple idea shaped by religious belief and an intimate study of theology, “how does one live in the world without becoming trapped by the mundane and being of the world?” or how does one accept God’s blessings of wealth, prosperity or fertility without becoming immersed in them. The Puritan dilemma plays out in a variety of arenas. Since it involves the world, it involves every aspect of life. Winthrop decided not to pursue hunting because even though it gave him pleasure, it seemed to be not a “godly” thing to do. However, there’s also the possibility that he was just a bad shot. To that effect, Winthrop gave something up that was not dear to him. And that in and of itself seems to be a good explanation of his life. Winthrop left England without any large person sacrifice, aside from leaving his wife for a time. He was in a dead-end job, lands were shrinking, and he had the possibility to develop the “Holy Commonwealth” he was looking for in England. But in true Puritan fashion, Winthrop weighed the pro and cons of leaving England. As it was necessary for the application of logic to the religion, it was also necessary to logically determine the best course of action. Logic ruled Winthrop’s life, which was yet another reason he could be considered the perfect Puritan.
Winthrop’s devotion to God was another thing that could not be questioned. In the way he acted in his daily life (aside from taking pleasure in the misfortune of his enemies), he showed his devotion to God and the community. The fact that he delayed excommunication of dissidents because of weather (which would result in their death if immediately enforced) or that he loaned personal supplies and wealth for the betterment of the community reinforced the fact that he loved his neighbors as he loved himself. Also, the leniency in which he applied certain rules also showed that he was an understanding man of God, allowing for misinterpretation and believing that most people could get on the correct path if treated well and instructed wisely.
Winthrop was good for the colony and for the “Holy Commonwealth.” However, the same cannot be said for Henry Vane, Roger Williams or Anne Hutchinson. Henry Vane presented a threat to the colony simply for his religious devotion, and “uncompromising devotion to principle.” (103) Williams was a move interesting case, and a more immediate threat. Roger Williams become a complete and total Separatist, to the point that the only person he would commune with was his wife. Williams attempted to extract himself from the “dung heap” of the earth, but to no avail. After moving from congregation to congregation, claiming followers and challenging the authority of the colony (all the way up to that of the King) Williams sequestered himself to the point where the only person he considered holy enough to be around was his wife. After realizing that his goals were absurd, Williams did a complete about face and then welcomed everyone to his congregation. Both positions, from the complete separatist, to the totally inclusive fellowship presented a threat to the colony as they both were deviations of the way that the Puritans conducted themselves, and conformity was the key in this society.
No one could make the statement that Anne Hutchinson conformed, either. Though Mrs. Hutchinson was a godly, intelligent woman, she also represented a threat to the colony as her religious meetings in her own came dangerously close to a separate sect of the religion. Hutchinson began her meetings to discuss the previous Sunday’s sermon, but those meetings quickly evolved into a type of preaching. Finally, at Hutchinson’s trial, she made the big mistake. Hutchinson claimed that God spoke directly to her, something that is not possible when one is a Puritan. God speaks through signs, not directly to people. Hutchinson’s different views, combined with the fact she was well spoken and respected presented a large threat to the colony, one that had to be stopped, and stop her they did.
The collapse of the Puritan colony came not from different congregations and dangerous ideas, but from the issue of the colony’s founders. The children and grand-children did not hold the same views as those who had set out to create the “city on a hill.” No matter how many jeremiads were preached, nor how many times reform was called for, or the leniencies allowed in church doctrine, the Holy Commonwealth was not to be. The prosperity of people in the new land leads them towards money and away from Puritan beliefs. More and more people began to care about establishing themselves as well-to-do business men and less as tools of God. Church membership declined and the errand into the wilderness failed. It failed because of growth, expansion, wealth and a difference in belief, the reason that a good number of experiments fail.
John Winthrop and Morgan’s “The Puritan Dilemma” leave us a good deal to consider. Once the origins of the nation are understood, it is easier to understand why we today do the things that we do, and why the government behaves the way that it does.
Works Cited
Morgan, Edmund S. The Puritan Dilemma: The Story of John Winthrop. Library of American Biography. Boston: Little, Brown, 1958.
All contents copyright Elizabeth Tibbert 2005.