Class Discussion Board

Lecture One: Puritanism

Lecture One: Puritanism

par meriem mengouchi,
Nombre de réponses : 9
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Dear students

In this discussion board we will analyze and discuss your reflections and responses to the different texts we will deal with. Please open a new conversation and upload the answers to the questions that are raised in this link Lecture One

You may discuss the ideas, comment on them, and analyse them.


En réponse à meriem mengouchi

Re: Lecture One: Puritanism

par MOHAMMED ALI CHOUACHI,
1- The text is talking about puritanism and the motives that made it emerge the text is also explaining to us how the puritans sought through church reforms to make their lifestyle the pattern for the whole nation
2-what I think about the term puritanism is that it's an old term that describes a way of practicing religion. In my opinion the kind of reaction the term triggered among monarchs and rulers of that period is bad seeing how it contributed to both the civil war in England and to the founding of colonies in America as working models of the puritan way of life.
3-according to the last statement in the first paragraph the puritans had to leave england seeking rufuge in America after starting a civil war and after losing hope in changing the course of their nation. the founding of the colonies in America was an easier way for the puritans to make puritanism the only way someone could practice his religion since America was just discovered these puritans had a better chance at gaining followers of their way of life and religion.
4-the main drives of the rise of Puritanism were
_the separation of the Roman Catholic church from the church of England by king henry the eighth in 1534
_The puritans were forced into exile after the return of England to Roman catholicism during the reign of queen Mary
_Many of these exiles found their way to Geneva where John Calvin's church provided them with a working model of a disciplined church.
_the two popular books of elezebethan England, the Geneva bible and John fox's book of martyrs that came after their experience and made it clear for puritans that england is the chosen land or nation of god and that they have to complete the work of reforming it.
5_the information that is implicitly implied to the reader by this statement "the protestants are exiled" is that
6_ the concept "the elect nation of god" means that this nation is the only one capable of ruling and having total control over religious matters it also implies that God gave total power to the royal family to rule over the people.
7_reformation means the change for the better and according to the protestants they wanted to change the way of practicing their religion. The protestants were led towards reformation after John Calvin's church provided them with a model of a disciplined church and the coming of the two most popular books of Elizabethan England "the Geneva Bible" and John Foxe’s Book of "Martyrs"
8_"saught parliamentary support for an effort to institute a special form of polity for the Church of England" this expression is implying that the puritans weekend the support and help of the parlement in order to introduce a special form of polity or set of rules for the church of England.
Institute means : to introduce or to appoint
Polity means : a form of government or organization of a state, church, society, etc; constitution.
9_the separatists are named different than the puritans because they got concerned over the long delay in reform so they decided upon a reformation without waiting or tarrying for any one
10_ English puritanism wasn't successful because the puritans were repressed by the establishment and denied the opportunity to reform the established church.
11_ the general theme of the text is puritanism, the text shows us how puritanism started and the motives behind and what it caused before showing us how it ended by turning into preaching and pamphlets and some experiments in religious expression and in social behavior. The author is standing with the English puritanism. The theme is very significant considering how it played a major role in the history of england.
12_ the text is providing us with high academic and educational value considering that it contains a lot of information about the history of england and names of different monarchs and different era's of time
This text can be very helpful to English learner it has a lot of new and interesting vocabulary
13_ the register used in this text is religious
14_ new vocabulary and pieces of information that I learned from the text :
Puritans protestants separatists puritanism Institute polity repudiated Elizabethan England reform reformation Catholicism
En réponse à MOHAMMED ALI CHOUACHI

Re: Lecture One: Puritanism

par WARDA AMINA KERROUMI,
Q1: The text above is about Puritanism, the rise of puritanism, it's meaning, it's history, causes and motives as each paragraph handles a different aspect.

Q2: I think the term "Puritanism" is a term of separation in the sense of purification or to purify as the rulers and monarchs of that time period used that movement to separate/purify themselves from the Roman Catholic Church ergo triggering a sense of unique and unified power in between themselves.

Q3: The colonies in America related to that religious group were forced to run away from the purists as mentioned "Their efforts to transform the nation contributed both to civil war in England and to the founding of colonies in America as working models of the Puritan way of life." which means the rulings implemented were not only added but enforced on the nation causing a drastic change in their day to day to life and a drastic change to their own previous beliefs, not being able to speak against it they had to flee from it ( the colonies in America ) and fight against it ( the civil war in England ).

Q4: From the first and second paragraph we understand that the main motives that caused the rise of said religous group are :
*The separation from the Roman Catholic Church.
*The constant change in ruling which naturally means change in beliefs ergo way of life.
*The books that were written: Elizabethan England-the Geneva Bible and John foxe's Book of Martyrs.

Q5: From that statement we learn that because of the constant change of leadership and the return of Roman Catholicism even though Protestantism before it had seen a large growth and advancement they were forced to escape to be able to practice their religious believes without being prosecuted for it.

Q6: The concept "the elect nation of God" even though was meant to be words of encouragement it means that no other nation is right when it comes to religious beliefs besides that one nation ergo either forcing every other nation into that set of beliefs or being punished for it, and the punisher would be excused for it as he/she is part of the elect nation of God, it is a boost of delusion, a manipulation tactic and border-line narcissistic.

Q7: What was meant by "reformation" in the second paragraph and the leading cause:
-Reformation in the context of the second paragraph means to re-build, not to re-invent but to re-create what rose once before as that religious group had to flee and be the martyrs for a while when England rejoined with the Roman Catholic Church. When Queen Elizabeth was in power she supported their cause therefore giving them a chance to
reform and build once again.

Q8:
*Part 1: "saught parliamentary support for an effort to institute a special form of polity for the Church of England" : To seek the the financial and moral support of the parliament and to implement religion within the law "polity" as make it
a part of politics forcing the nation to follow the religious ruling by law.
Q8:
-Part 2: The terms within their context:
Institute: To force indirectly
Polity: Politics. Policy. Laws.

Q9: The Separatists supported the free worship of God as for the Puritans they enforced their religious beliefs on other nations.Q8:
-Part 2: The terms within their context:
Institute: To force indirectly
Polity: Politics. Policy. Laws.

Q9: The Separatists supported the free worship of God as for the Puritans they enforced their religious beliefs on other nations.

Q10: Yes English Puritanism was successful because it got the support of the monarch, leaders, parliament and the nobility which forced the rest of the nation to follow.

Q11:
-Academically : It allows the students, professors, any one really in the academic field reading it to have a better understanding of the past and historic events which provides better insights to different fields, whether it is reading comprehension, philosophy, psychology, sociology...etc.
-Social : It shows how influential the nobility was in the past, it shows how dangerous believing you're chosen by god can be, It shows the segregation that has happened simply because two sets of similar religions were slightly different and it shows the amount of change that can happen to a nation or even a person's life when someone with higher rank just decides it is okay to suddenly enforce rulings over others even if it was not there before in their day to day life.
-Educational : Live and let live, there is no need to force anyone to do anything, that part of history teaches and shows how many years wasted fighting over belief and how many lives were lost even though not mentioned. While everyone should just live and let live and focus on the better good of humanity.

Q12: It is a mix of political and historic text as it mentioned historic figures and different eras while mentioning the political events. (edited)

Q13: The concept of Puritanism itself.
En réponse à meriem mengouchi

Re: Lecture One: Puritanism

par meriem mengouchi,
Avatar FAD 8
Dear students,
Thank you for your responses.
Well done, your answers are clever and promising. In the next posts I will be adding comments about your answers and analysis of the content and goals of the lecture.
The remaining students are requested to use the Response button below my post and upload their own answers and analysis.
En réponse à meriem mengouchi

Re: Lecture One: Puritanism

par meriem mengouchi,
Avatar FAD 8
1. The present text is an introduction to Puritanism as a movement. The goal of the text is informative. It provides important pieces of information about the movement Puritanism, as what it means, how it started, its significance in European society and most importantly, its role in the history of America.
En réponse à meriem mengouchi

Re: Lecture One: Puritanism

par meriem mengouchi,
Avatar FAD 8
2. The term Puritanism is derived from the word "pure", which denotes cleaning and a purification of something, in the present text, it refers to a purification of the church. The term is significant because it entails impurity and corruption in the church which is solved by a limited group. The movement triggered the anger of the British monarchs and the latter has led to civil wars and prosecution. The final statement of the first paragraph which says: " Their efforts to transform the nation contributed both to civil war in England and to the founding of colonies in America as working models of the Puritan way of life" shows that the attempt to impose the puritan lifestyle and thoughts on the entire country has aroused growing anger among the monarchs and has provoked a civil war and immigration towards America.
En réponse à meriem mengouchi

Re: Lecture One: Puritanism

par meriem mengouchi,
Avatar FAD 8
  • Read the last statement in the first paragraph, comment on the meaning of the statement. In what way is the founding of the colonies in America related to a religious group?

Historically it is known that America was founded by immigrants who have travelled and settled in the continent after its discovery. The puritans as a prosecuted group were among the first to travel to this country and settle. They proclaimed their independence and first democratic government on the Mayflower, the ship that has led them to America. Upon their arrival, they started the first free government in the continent while the other immigrants were considered British and French colonists. Even though their government did not sustain, the Puritans are still considered as the father in America. More information on: Of Plymouth Plantation

  • What were the main drives of the rise of Puritanism?

The drives that have led to the rise of Puritanism are the following:

The return to Roman catholicism by Queen Mary.

The self-exile of the Protestants.

John Calvin's model of the disciplined church in Geneva.

The Publication of the Geneva Bible and John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs which drove the English Protestants to view England as an elect nation chosen by God.

  • In line 3 of the second paragraph we learn that the protestants are forced into exile. Based on this statement, what information is implicitly provided to the reader in this line?

The information that is provided here is that the puritans were prosecuted and shunned by the monarchs because of their thoughts and beliefs. They were thus forced into exile.

  • What does the concept "the elect nation of God" mean?

It is a concept derived from the bible and holy texts which means that God has a preferred land and a "chosen" people.

  • Read the second paragraph and explain what the reformation means and what has led the protestants towards it.

The reformation sought to reestablish the values of the church, te reform and to discipline the church like the example of John Calvin in Geneva. It is viewed as a misison from God to the elect according to the text.

  • Read the third paragraph and explain the following statement "saught parliamentary support for an effort to institute a special form of polity for the Church of England". What does the term "institute" mean in this context? What does the term "polity" mean? (Use the dictionary when you are unable to provide answers)

The statement denotes that the religious group was looking for legal support through the parliament, thus make their activity politically legal and avoid conflicts with the monarchs and those who detain power. "Institute" in this statement means to install or to fix a set of rules or laws. The term "polity" in this sense refers to a particular system, or discipline for the church. The term polity actually means: an organized society; or civil form of government.

  • In what way are the Separatists different than the Puritans?

The separatists had the same motives as the puritans, yet they were bothered by the delay their requests were subjected to in the parliament, thus they decided to start action. They rejected (the text uses the word  "repudiated" in the same meaning) the governmental church and built their own congregations (which are religious groups who sometimes have self-government). They were repressed by the government.

  • Was English Puritanism successful? Why?

The last statement in the text says " English Puritanism turned to preaching, pamphlets, and a variety of experiments in religious expression and in social behaviour and organization. Its growth also owed much to patrons among the nobility and in Parliament and its control of colleges and professorships at Oxford and Cambridge" This statement means that the movement was successful but not on its own. The movement was backed by officials and people who held good positions (like patrons, parliament members, colleges, etc)

  • Think about the general theme of the text and explain it in a few lines, including: The position of the author, the major argument, the significance of the theme.

The general theme of the text concerns a religious group that was successful in their quest and in making the world learn about their beliefs even though they were prosectued. The author seems to sympathize with the puritans. The major arguments of the text explain how and that the puritans were faught in the beginning and that there was a rejection that was followed by resistance from the religious group. The theme is significant because the puritans have become a historical legacy and fact.

En réponse à meriem mengouchi

Re: Lecture One: Puritanism

par meriem mengouchi,
Avatar FAD 8
  • What academic/social/educational value is provided by the text? How useful can this type of text be to learners of the English language (EFLs)?

The text has academic and educational values. The learner's ability to understand this goal shows their mastery of the reading skill. EFLs need the learn about the history and literature of the target language in order to ensure the maximum exposure to the target culture. Through such texts different cultural values and expressions are learnt, like the term and significance of the movement Puritanism itself, the concept of the elect and "God's chosen people", the "Reform" and "Separatists" as historical concepts.

  • How would you categorize the register (type of language) used in the text? (formal, informal, colloquial, slang, scientific, technological, religous, political, etc)

The register of the text is formal and religious/ This means that the text includes a lot of religious references , most of the words have a formal and religious background and use.

  • Make a list of the new vocabulary and pieces of information that you have learnt in this text and upload them in the first thread in the Class Discussion Board.

The list varies from one student to another. Students are kindly requested to fill the list of words / Expressions / Concepts they've learnt and their use in the text.


En réponse à meriem mengouchi

Re: Lecture One: Puritanism

par MANEL MOURO,
Lecture 01:puritanism
1_The text is talking about the puritanism movement and its reform work
2_Well, in my opinion, the term Puritanism likely triggered mixed reactions among the rulers and monarchs of that period. Some rulers may have seen the Puritans as a threat to their authority and the established Church, as the Puritans sought to reform and purify the Church of England. On the other hand, some rulers may have sympathized with the Puritans' religious ideals and supported their cause. It really depended on the individual ruler and their own religious and political beliefs. It's always interesting to see how different groups and ideologies can evoke varied responses from those in power.
3_That statement highlights the significant impact of the Puritans' efforts on both England and America. The Puritans' desire to reform the Church of England and live according to their religious ideals led to conflicts within England, including the English Civil War. Additionally, seeking religious freedom and the opportunity to establish their own communities, the Puritans founded colonies in America, such as the Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony. These colonies became working models of the Puritan way of life, where they could practice their religion freely and govern their communities based on their religious beliefs. The founding of these colonies in America was closely tied to the Puritans' religious motivations and their desire to create societies that reflected their religious ideals.
4_The main drives of the rise of puritanism are:
*the separation of roman catholic church.
*the constant change in ruling which naturally means change in beliefs way of life.
*the selfexile of the protestants.
*the two popular books of Elizabethan england
5_The information that is provided here is the puritants were prosecuted and shunned by the monarchs because of their thoughts and beliefs, the were thus forced into exile.
6_It is a concept derived from the bible and Holy texts which means that god has preferred land and a chosen people.
7_Reformation: search to rebuilding the values of the church to reform and discipline the church.
8_The statement denote that the religious group was looking for legal support through the parliament, institute in this statement means to fix a set of regulation and lows, the terms polity in this sense refer to particular system.
9_The separatits supported the free worship of god as for the puritants, they rejected the same motives and they were repressed by the government.
10_English puritanism was successful, because the movement was backed by officials and people who help good positions.
11_The general them of the text is religious movement that was successful in their work. The author seems to sympathize with the puritants. The major arguments of the text explain the starting of puritants and that there was rejection that was followed by resistance from the religious group.
12_the text has a academic and educational values.
13_The text is includes a lot of religious references most of the words have a formal and religious background and use.