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The Laws of the Puritans

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Submitted By gedlyn
Words 702
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History 101
May 30, 2013

The point of view that seems most accurate based on my understanding of the laws that were enacted and practiced by the Puritans during the setting up of their colony in Massachusetts is the point of view that states that the Puritans were a reactionary and theocratic people opposed to freedom of thoughts, religious liberty and the idea of democratic government. The Puritans were not flexible in their thoughts or works, and had no regard for change no matter how successful it could prove. They had fled to America in order to find a peaceful place to practice their religion. They had lost faith in the Catholic Church and were protesting against the way the Catholic Church was aligned with God. The Puritan clergy did not embrace the slightest notions that appeared to deviate from what they thought Christianity was supposed to be. They were intolerant and unreceptive to any such thoughts and were indifferent to science and cultural matters.
The ideas held by the first group of historians about the Puritans can be sustained when one looks at the Puritan’s laws and how their colony was first governed. For example, the law which states that ‘gaming’ was prohibited in the colony, speaks directly to the point that the Puritans were indeed dictators and were very undemocratic. Their society was much like slavery as the time used for ‘gaming’ or past time was viewed as unfruitful. The inhabitants other than those who were direct law makers were expected to be away from work only for as long as it was appropriate for food and rest. The inhabitants were given no time for socializing. Here we see that the few who governed were rigid in their religious orthodoxy although their aim was to keep themselves in political power.
The second law that showed how the Puritans used their religion and the need for power and money to become indifferent to

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