Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The Religion of the Pilgrims

While doing some more research I ran across this article on the religion of the Pilgrims:
The Separatists, or Independents, were English Protestants who occupied the extreme wing of Puritanism. The Separatists were severely critical of the Church of England and wanted to either destroy it or separate from it. Their chief complaint was that too many elements of the Roman Catholic Church had been retained, such as the ecclesiastical courts, clerical vestments, altars and the practice of kneeling. The Separatists were also critical of the lax standards of public behavior, citing widespread drunkenness and the failure of many to keep the Sabbath properly.
Referring to themselves as the Saints, the Separatists believed that they had been elected by God for salvation (see Calvinism) and feared spiritual contamination if they worshiped with those outside of their congregations, often referred to as the Strangers.
In 1608, a community of English separatists decided to escape persecution by moving to Holland, an area long known for its toleration. Dutch society was so welcoming that the Pilgrims, as they had come to be known, eventually feared that they were losing control over their children. In 1620, they set out for a more remote location that would allow them to protect their community. This effort resulted in the founding of Plymouth Colony.
Other contemporary religious dissenters, the Puritans, believed that the Church of England was badly in need of reform, but could be salvaged.
My 10th great grandfather Eduoad Bompasse was known to have emigrated to Holland and to have been part of this religious group.

4 comments:

  1. There is so much information out there and it just facinates me to see how the Pilgrims and Pioneers lived...and then we freak out if we forget our cell phone...Times sure were different back then...and 100% better all the way around.
    Love to read your blog when ever I can...keep up the good work
    Nancy
    P S if you go to my blog and click on my going green with Nancy link you can see some of my new totes and market bags. I am presently making some for Breast Cancer awareness and will post them soon :)

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  2. Thanks Nancy! Things suer were different! I will check out your green items!

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  3. What a coincidence - Edouard (our spelling from all over the net) Bompasse is my great grandfather back 10 generations from my mother (Bump) - I've been tracing him from birth in England, to the Netherlands (sometimes called Holland as well, though there is a difference) to the ship "Fortune" to Plymouth 11/10/1621 where he apparently met Hannah Annable, married, had up to 13 children.

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  4. Oh My goodness- if you come back to this post please email me at john_peterson_356@comcast.net

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