Puritan Dilemma, As Edmund Morgan Term Paper

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Another manifestation of the paradox is the confrontation with Anne Hutchinson. She promoted the ideals of Arminianism and Antinomianism. Arminianism was the specific paradigm that Winthrop was to deal with in this reagard. Arminianism entailed the belief that God could be influenced in order to secure salvation by preparing oneself for its receipt. Antinomianism is nearly the opposite of the above, entailing the belief that God's predetermined salvation grants permission to be however sinful one wishes. Goodness or sinfulness have no meaning in the yes of God. Thus the one philosophy holds that one group of persons should feel superior to another, while the latter is a form of nihilism. Both extremes however is not good for any society.

Finally, Winthrop's dilemma relates to the position of his established city towards to foreign states, perceived as more corrupt than the Puritan "City on the Hill" founded by Winthrop. Winthrop showed uncommon wisdom in his understanding that foreing policy had to incorporate at least some evils in terms of the corrupt world in order to suppress even worse ones. This understanding is closely related to Winthrop's understanding that the more extreme philosophies, such as separationism, could not function practically within the world. Thus Winthrop did not join the magistrates and deputies against all outlanders. He could thus not entirely support he separationism promoted by the more extreme forms of Puritanism promoted by Anne Hutchinson.

All of Winthrop's particular struggles with the above dilemmas are also a manifestation of the struggles of the United States as a whole.

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The definition of democratic America for example is the core of American politics. Winthrop struggled to find a definition for his newly founded state, and how this should be governed. Separationism is also a prominent theme, as this is what led to the revolution and finally the war that was the separation of the United States from Great Britain. Finally this is the aspect that would lead to the Civil War.

Arminianism refers to the Elititism (or Arminianism) that is one of the core aspects of America's relations with and at times antagonism against immigrants. This is the aspect of the country's history that would lead to racism and the paradigm of the xenophobic anti-immigration.

The interesting thing about the Puritan dilemma is that it affecst all ages and walks of life, and that it is applicable to religious philosophy even today. Questions of how to live and work in society in order to carry out the ideals of religion has been one to plague people in every age. The main question is the one of what persons of principle owe to society. And this is what can be learned from Winthrop's life.

Winthrop's New England, despite the main dilemmas that went with it, was to be a testimony to the world of what a community was to be when both church and state followed the laws….....

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