The George Burroughs incident proves that the Salem Witch Trials were not just about superstition.
The George Burroughs incident proves that the Salem Witch Trials were not just about superstition.
I ( Dee) have been surprised by the interest that has been generated by our look at the Puritans. I grew up in Salem, Massachusetts, and thanks to the Puritans, my hometown is known as “The Witch City”. Imagine your high school football team being known as “The Salem High School Witches”… Incredibly, when I was growing up the little black emblem of a witch riding on a broom was ubiquitous from gas stations to fabric stores. This emblem was “tongue in cheek” because if the truth be told, the supposed “witches” of Salem’s history were not purveyors of that black trade — not even close! Grievously, they were, as Curly of the Three Stooges might say, “victims of circumstance (which he pronounced soy kum stance).”
THEY’RE BACK! The 21st Century Puritans are taking over the blogosphere in case you haven’t noticed. Puritanism is the lastest and greatest craze among those who label themselves as New Calvinists. Take a look…
No investigation of the Puritans would be complete without focusing on J.I. Packer, who is fondly referred to as “The Last Puritan”. Even though he is advanced in age, Dr. Packer is a Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He earned the nickname because of his Puritan-focused scholarship, teaching, and writing over many decades. Packer’s influence has been important in Reformed circles, and he has inspired a new generation of Puritan-minded Christians.
After almost half a millenium, the Puritans are now “hip”. It’s incredible how the New Calvinists have embraced Puritanism in recent years. Who were the Puritans? What did they believe? And how did the Puritans worship God? We will attempt to answer these questions in today’s post. It’s important to note that this article is not intended to be a treatise on Puritanism. We’re just skimming the surface of a topic about which volumes and volumes have been written. Please feel free to chime in with your personal knowledge of the Puritans.