Religious Diversity in Colonial America
Protestants and Catholics Establish Roots in the Thirteen Colonies
Dec 26, 2008 Michael Streich
From the earliest days of English colonization in the 17th Century, America was a land of many religious faith traditions. Out of this rich diversity, American notions of religious tolerance as well as the strong desire to separate church and state would emerge. At the same time, however, some early American faith traditions initially followed exclusionary policies that rejected ideals of religious equality, notably among New England Calvinists.
Religious Diversity in the American Colonies
Massachusetts was settled by Puritans and Separatist Pilgrims. Following John Calvin’s theological system, Puritans adhered to the “Covenant of Grace” and enforced a strict theocracy that rejected frivolous activities, Sunday recreation, and even holidays like Christmas. Puritans were to be a “visible kingdom” on earth, according to their governor, John Winthrop. Detractors were banished from the community or left of their own accord.
In the Chesapeake Bay colony of Virginia, the official religion was the Church of England. Sunday attendance was mandatory by everyone in the colony, whether they subscribed to Anglicanism or not. Here also the church held civil powers and received support from the state. Catholics could not act as judges in Virginia courts nor hold political offices. After the Revolution, the Church of England became the Episcopal Church, shedding its identity with British influences.
New Amsterdam was the chief colonial commercial center of the Netherlands until the Anglo-Dutch wars of the mid to late 17th century ceded it to Britain. Under the first Governor, Peter Stuyvesant, all Protestant faith traditions were welcome. A boatload of Jews seeking refuge, however, was turned away by the governor, his reasons couched in commercial considerations.
Pennsylvania was the land of Quakers. Founded by William Penn, the colony grew out of the city of “brotherly love,” Philadelphia. Protestants of all stripes, particularly those of Pietistic background, found a welcome in Penn’s Woods. This included the “sectarian” Pietists such as Mennonites, the Amish, Moravians, and Dunkers or Brethren. So-called “Churchly Pietists” like Lutherans.
Dr. Francis Daniel Pastorius brought significant numbers of German Protestants to Pennsylvania, founding Germantown. In 1688, he authored a declaration condemning slaveholding. This was the first such protest in the colonies against slavery in American History.
Other Religions in the Colonies
Following religious upheavals in France, Huguenots or French Calvinists fled to North America seeking a safe haven to practice their faith. Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere came out of the Huguenot tradition. In Maryland, Cecilius Calvert (Lord Baltimore), established a colony in 1634 for Catholics, although most settlers tended to be non-Catholic.
Scandinavian Lutherans settled in Delaware while Protestant Scots-Irish found their way into the back country of the Carolinas. At least six of the original colonial attempts were made in the name of religion: Plymouth, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.
By the early 18th century, the First Great Awakening would galvanize many colonists as revivals swept New England and the Middle Colonies. John Wesley traveled the colonies preaching a message that would build the Methodist Church in America. Puritanism would give way to the Congregationalist traditions. By the time of the Revolution, Mother Ann Lee arrived, building an Adventist community known as Shakers that would thrive well into the next century.
Legacy of Colonial Religious Diversity
From these earliest expressions of faith, a long religious tradition emerged and expanded over the next two hundred years of American history. Frequently changed or redirected during periods of “Awakenings” or spiritual revivals that were nationally universal, the unique and peculiar nature of American faith traditions can be traced back to the earliest days when persecuted Europeans seized an opportunity to practice their beliefs without the fear of reprisal.
Sources:
Alan Taylor, American Colonies (New York: Penguin/Viking Press, 2001)
No comments:
Post a Comment