Transcript Introducing American Religion Chapter 2

European Settlers Increase
Religious Diversity
Transatlantic Transitions and the
Origins of Colonial America
Catholicism in America
 Before any Protestant landed on the shores of
America, Catholicism had made its mark, first by
the Spanish and then by the French
 The Spanish came through Mexico into the (now)
southwestern United States with military force
intent on extending the glory and wealth of Spain
 The French, traveling down from Canada, came
as traders and trappers, seeking use of the
resources of an untapped country
Spanish Catholicism
 From the beginning of their conquest, Spain entertained competing
ideas of how to deal with indigenous populations: conquer them and
take their land or convert them?
 Brutality against native peoples was not uncommon, however many
priests and monks established pueblos where Native Americans could
earn a living and receive religious instruction
– Disregarding motives, in both instances, native peoples were forced
to leave their tribe, effecting the destruction of indigenous culture
– For example, Junipero Serra, forcefully restrained Native
Americans in his missions who wished to leave- he did not eschew
the use of force in religious conversion
French Catholicism
 The second Catholic presence in America was French missionaries
 Overall, the French were less interested in conquering indigenous
populations, but they too were assured of their conviction that these
“inferior” populations needed to be converted
 In certain ways, the French had greater success
– They came into areas where tribes were competing for dominance,
thus certain tribes saw it as an opportunity to ally with the French
- Religious women were also a part of the effort, adding a different flair
to conversion attempts
 Even with the advent of Protestantism in America, there existed a
strong Catholic presence in the areas where the French were most
prominent
Varieties of Protestantism in the
First English Colonies
 From England arrived a number of different forms
of Protestantism to the Eastern seaboard of
America
 First came the Anglicans to Virginia, representing
the established Church of England
– Colonial settlement from Jamestown followed the
course of rivers, making gathered groups of people
more scattered, less concentrated and in individual
parishes; this led in turn to a shortage of clergy and
greater lay participation in turn
English Protestantism
 Settling in the North, what would later become New
England, were those dissenting from English rule
– It obscures differences to say that all were Puritans, since even
within that group, there were different movements
– The Separating Puritans were those who saw the Church of
England as beyond salvation; these were the famous pilgrims of the
Mayflower, settling in Plymouth
– Later came the non-separating Puritans who believed that the
church needed reformation from within, the inspiration for which
they would provide across the ocean; they established the
Massachusetts Bay Colony
 Both forms of Puritanism did not wish to allow for religious
diversity, but desired a purified church
Dissent in New England Society
 In spite of their initial goals, dissent and diversity did seep into Puritan
society
 Four classic examples, all of whom represent the common theme of
American religion (that of minority religions confronting a majority
religion):
– (1) Roger Williams: believing that the purity of the church was so
vital, that government should have no hand in enforcing it; began
the Colony of Rhode Island, a virtual haven for those with religious
beliefs different to those of the Puritan establishment
– (2) Anne Hutchison: lightning rod of the “Antinomian Controversy”;
believed that all New England clergy, but John Cotton, were
preaching a “covenant of works”
 She maintained that she received direct revelation from God,
thus existing “above the law”; she was banished to RI
Dissent in New England Society
 Four Classic Examples (contd.):
– (3) The Quakers: started by George Fox who
maintained that “the inner light of God’s truth came to
each person directly” (26) and denied that the clergy
held the sole right to interpret scripture
 They found refuge in Williams’s Rhode Island, but some who
returned were hanged for their heresy
– (4) The Salem Witch Trials: an instance of the conflation
of the Puritan belief in the supernatural with a belief that
heresy must be sought out and punished
 Many people were accused, usually by young women, tried and
subsequently executed for witchcraft
 The reality of demonic forces made such hysteria possible