American Colonies
"The Puritan Way," from The Light and the Glory
The Pilgrims now have a pretty bad reputation as a bunch of repressed, legalistic, and self-righteous fanatics. But historically, this was never so. They created a community based on the Christian values that they believed would best honor God. They were compassionate, forgiving, and caring people who laid down their lives in order to survive in the New World.
The Pilgrims and Puritans strongly identified with the Old Testament Israelites, and they viewed the New World as a modern promised land. It was the land of milk and honey that God had given them as an escape from the captivity of religious persecution. The New Israel that they tried to create was a religious commonwealth, and a community that was governed only by the law of the Bible. Their Bible was the only law book they needed. If they were going to create a heaven on earth, they were responsible to root out sin to avoid the wrath of God. Just like God allowed the Isrealites to be taken into captivity, the Puritans believed that their new found religious freedom could also be forfeited if they became a sinful people.
This then made the Puritans intolerant of sin in their own life or in any other's life in their community. Just like God allowed the Isrealites to loose in the battle of Ai because of one man's sin, they believed that one individual's sin affected the entire community. They held each other accountable to a very high moral standard. They also understood that those who are forgiven much, love much. They understood themselves to be sinners forgiven by God, which allowed them to offer forgiveness and loving rebuke to others.
The Pilgrims and Puritans strongly identified with the Old Testament Israelites, and they viewed the New World as a modern promised land. It was the land of milk and honey that God had given them as an escape from the captivity of religious persecution. The New Israel that they tried to create was a religious commonwealth, and a community that was governed only by the law of the Bible. Their Bible was the only law book they needed. If they were going to create a heaven on earth, they were responsible to root out sin to avoid the wrath of God. Just like God allowed the Isrealites to be taken into captivity, the Puritans believed that their new found religious freedom could also be forfeited if they became a sinful people.
This then made the Puritans intolerant of sin in their own life or in any other's life in their community. Just like God allowed the Isrealites to loose in the battle of Ai because of one man's sin, they believed that one individual's sin affected the entire community. They held each other accountable to a very high moral standard. They also understood that those who are forgiven much, love much. They understood themselves to be sinners forgiven by God, which allowed them to offer forgiveness and loving rebuke to others.
"The Trial of Martha Carrier" by Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather, a patriarch and a well respected man of the community, attempted to write a factual account of the events that took place during the trial of Martha Carrier. She was accused of being a with during the witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts, in the summer of 1962.
So how much of the "evidence" and accusations brought against Martha Carrier is circumstantial evidence?
what is meant by the words "circumstantial evidence?"
It is when indirect evidence and information is used to deduct a probable conclusion from the facts that are known.
Unfortunately, very little of the facts can be explained. This leaves a problem for the court. No other conclusion can be reached about these events because they cannot scientifically explain them. With their limited knowledge of medicine and the seemingly supernatural observations, witchcraft is the only conclusion that they can deduct.
Consider the relationship or the context under which these unexplainable events occurred:
- Land disputes
- Brawls
- Arguments
So how much of the "evidence" and accusations brought against Martha Carrier is circumstantial evidence?
what is meant by the words "circumstantial evidence?"
It is when indirect evidence and information is used to deduct a probable conclusion from the facts that are known.
Unfortunately, very little of the facts can be explained. This leaves a problem for the court. No other conclusion can be reached about these events because they cannot scientifically explain them. With their limited knowledge of medicine and the seemingly supernatural observations, witchcraft is the only conclusion that they can deduct.
Consider the relationship or the context under which these unexplainable events occurred:
- Land disputes
- Brawls
- Arguments