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How Did Religion Influence Colonial American Religion

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One main idea expressed in this chapter is how the early 1600’s colonial American religions helped shape the colonialists’ culture and views on the treatment of women, and their place in the world. To support this idea, I offer two religious events the authors describe: Original sin, and the Salem witch trials.
Hymowitz andWeissman wrote that the one thing early religions had in common are their story of original sin, as described in the bible. This story was so central to their religion that it was one of their founding principles; humankind was tainted and few could attain salvation. The taint was the fault of Eve, and thus warned men to be wary of women because of their feeble mindedness.
Second, the Salem witch trials offer us a view on

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