The Influence of Puritan Thought on Colonial Colleges in North America

Yongmei Yu ； Aifen Song

《International Journal of Social Science and Education Research》 3卷12期 (2020/12) Pp. 330-335

https://doi.org/10.6918/IJOSSER.202012_3(12).0043

摘要

Puritanism is a unique philosophy that reflects the intellectual ethos of 17th century England. They believe that although man is an inherently sinful being, he is also a rational being capable of understanding his own actions and assuming their responsibilities. Moreover, it makes sense for human beings to live within the boundaries of free choice between good and evil. Drawing on the traditions and ideas of the Reformation and the Renaissance, the Puritans emphasized the unity of faith and reason, arguing that one person should empower others. For the Puritans, there was no conflict between the truth revealed by God and the natural world of man and the Puritans could even accept the knowledge of natural science as a subsidiary truth. Puritans adopted a rational rather than intuitive attitude towards life. They tried to unify faith and reason into a consistent way of thinking. This combination of faith and reason was a cornerstone of the cultural life of the New England colonies.

關鍵字

Colonial college of British North America ； puritanical ideology ； Influence

參考文獻

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