History/Religion 345 – RELIGION IN AMERICA – August 31, 2005  

Religion in Colonial America: The English Inheritance  

I.                   Empirical data.  Be sure you can define EACH of the following:  

1. Quickly review the terms associated with Native American religions, such as immanence; correspondence; Manitou, etc.
2. Protestantism
3. “Dissenters”
4. Puritanism
5. Philip Schaff
6. Westminster Confession
7. Presbyterians & Congregationalists
8. Separatists
9. “priesthood of believers”
10. “plain testimony of Scripture”
11. Laity
12. Parish system
13. “gathered churches”
14. Puritan “Great Migration”
15. Penn’s “Holy Experiment”

II.                Critical thinking.    

1. Here’s a cross between a “definitional” question and a “cause/effect” question.  Corrigan & Hudson argue that “Protestantism” “caused” America to develop certain distinct qualities.  What do they mean by “Protestantism”?  How did Protestantism “cause” America to develop in certain ways?  Are YOU convinced by their argument? 

2. “Puritanism” had a tremendous impact on religion in America.  What exactly is “Puritanism”?  Is it still around?  Has it died out?  Are there still traces of Puritanism in American culture?  

3. Look carefully at the role of the “laity” in religion in America.  What was the role of the “people in the pews”?  How did they get that role?  How did that effect the wider culture?  

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Modified by:  H.  Kamerling