The Profane, the Civil, and the Godly

Download or read book The Profane, the Civil, and the Godly written by Richard P. Gildrie and published by Penn State Press. This book was released on 1993-11-17 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this prize-winning study of the sacred and profane in Puritan New England, Richard P. Gildrie seeks to understand not only the fears, aspirations, and moral theories of Puritan reformers but also the customs and attitudes they sought to transform. Topics include tavern mores, family order, witchcraft, criminality, and popular religion. Gildrie demonstrates that Puritanism succeeded in shaping regional society and culture for generations not because New Englanders knew no alternatives but because it offered a compelling vision of human dignity capable of incorporating and adapting crucial elements of popular mores and aspirations.