Happy 232nd Birthday, USA!
There are many Americans who believe that this great country has changed a lot since it was first conceived. Indeed, many things have changed, some for the better and some for the worse. Our Constitution has been updated with 17 amendments since the Bill of Rights was added. Some people think that is too many, others say it is not enough.
But, that's one of the principles the United States of America was based upon, and mentioned (more or less) in the first amendment - The freedom to disagree.
Some might say we have refined disagreement to a high art. And, as it has been since the beginning, there are those who think we disagree too much.
The Pilgrims who journeyed on the Mayflower to Plymouth in 1620, followed by a boatload of Puritans in 1629, and more during the "Great Migration" in the years following, were seeking a land free from the inflexible dogma of the Church of England. Actually, they had their own inflexible dogma, but it disagreed with the Church of England's on several key points. These people referred to themselves as "The Holy", not "Puritans" (that was a term of derision coined by the English people who thought they were all batty).
And, yes, they did, literally, believe they were Holier than thou (or anyone else who was not one of them). A good example of this was Puritan minister Cotton Mather, who was particularly influential on early America, having published more than 450 books and pamphlets which were widely read throughout the English colonies.
They never constituted a majority in the early colonies, but their influence was unmistakable and they have always been a part of us (whether we like it or not).
To find the heirs of the Puritans today, you need only seek their most visible leaders: Pat Robertson and Randy Brinson. There are others, of course, but those two have that unique brand of fundamental conservative Christianity that is particularly American.
Other heirs of "The Holy" might include (but are not restricted to): the Texas FLDS Church, the Westboro Baptist Church, Christian Identity, and even scarier groups.
One of the things all of these people share is the unshakable belief that the rest of us should not be disagreeing with them.
I really really really enjoy the fact that I can still disagree.
Up yours, Puritans!
But, that's one of the principles the United States of America was based upon, and mentioned (more or less) in the first amendment - The freedom to disagree.
Some might say we have refined disagreement to a high art. And, as it has been since the beginning, there are those who think we disagree too much.
The Pilgrims who journeyed on the Mayflower to Plymouth in 1620, followed by a boatload of Puritans in 1629, and more during the "Great Migration" in the years following, were seeking a land free from the inflexible dogma of the Church of England. Actually, they had their own inflexible dogma, but it disagreed with the Church of England's on several key points. These people referred to themselves as "The Holy", not "Puritans" (that was a term of derision coined by the English people who thought they were all batty).
And, yes, they did, literally, believe they were Holier than thou (or anyone else who was not one of them). A good example of this was Puritan minister Cotton Mather, who was particularly influential on early America, having published more than 450 books and pamphlets which were widely read throughout the English colonies.
They never constituted a majority in the early colonies, but their influence was unmistakable and they have always been a part of us (whether we like it or not).
To find the heirs of the Puritans today, you need only seek their most visible leaders: Pat Robertson and Randy Brinson. There are others, of course, but those two have that unique brand of fundamental conservative Christianity that is particularly American.
Other heirs of "The Holy" might include (but are not restricted to): the Texas FLDS Church, the Westboro Baptist Church, Christian Identity, and even scarier groups.
One of the things all of these people share is the unshakable belief that the rest of us should not be disagreeing with them.
I really really really enjoy the fact that I can still disagree.
Up yours, Puritans!
posted by M. B. Dezotell at 2:59 PM
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