Religion in Colonial Society - Assignment Example

Winthrop and Bradford used religion to subdue their followers to of the circumstances before and afterthey set their foot in North America. According to Winthrop, the states of affair of the poor, the rich, the rulers and the ruled is according to the will of God (Winthrop). The doctrine preached by Winthrop argue to maintain a status quo and bond the society together. The role of religion thus is to unify people no matter their status in society. However, Bradford exercised a different view of religion.

For him and his people they praised and thanked God for the good thing that they had gone through from turbulent wave and good health on their voyage to America (Halsall). In Massachusetts Bay, Winthrop led a colony that he believed he was called by God to lead. He exercised authority with a divine perspective and entrenched democracy in the church. The churchmen were the only people allowed to choose their colonies leaders. In his sermon ‘A Model of Christian Charity’ Winthrop outline God purpose for the Massachusetts Bay (Winthrop).

The church has a big role to play in the way the colony was governed. Consequently, the group that settled in Plymouth had a similar system in governing it people. Bradford had come out of the Church of England with the aim of reforming the church values to its primitive ways. The earlier Christian believed the bible to be the ultimate reference book in governing and others ways of life (Halsall). The Maryland Act of Toleration made profound announcement to God similar to the Puritan writings.

However, the ‘Plantation Agreement at Providence expounded on the freedom of men in running out the resources in the new found colony (The Maryland Toleration Act 1649). The influence of the early religion in America has continued to influence the majority of the population. People have aligned them self to policies that have been run down through history. The Christian life of American is shaped by the ideas of the Pilgrim and the puritans. Works CitedHalsall, Paul. "William Bradford: from History of Plymouth Plantation, c. 1650." July 1998. fordham.edu.

http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/mod/1650bradford.asp. 06 September 2014."The Maryland Toleration Act," 2012. rug.nl. http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1600-1650/the-maryland-toleration-act-1649.php. 06 September 2014.Winthrop, John. "A Model of Christian Charity." August 1996. hanover.edu. http://history.hanover.edu/texts/winthmod.html. 06 September 2014.