Differences Between Pilgrims And Puritans

Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by QCity Editorial Stuff

The pilgrims and the puritans were two religious groups that came to America for different reasons. The pilgrims came in search of a better life, while the puritans sought to create a new society based on their strict moral code. Both cultures have left an impact on American culture today. 

Puritanism is a subset of Protestant Christianity originating from 16th-century England, which believes in predestination and condemns sinfulness as being one’s fault or “faulty nature” rather than being committed by free will. Puritanism emphasizes living an ethical life with high regard for biblical morality and God’s justice over worldly things such as wealth, prosperity, success, etc., putting these secondary to obedience towards God’s law.

Comparison Between Pilgrims And Puritans

Parameters of ComparisonPilgrimsPuritans
Puritypilgrims leftPuritans wanted to purify the Church of England from within
Assets Has less money Had more money 
Educated Less-educated More educated 
Belief pilgrims didn’t Puritans believed in predestination

What Are Pilgrims? 

Pilgrims are the people who travel to a religious site, often called a shrine. The word pilgrim comes from the Latin word peregrines (wanderer) and refers to someone who is traveling in foreign lands. A person could also be called a pilgrim if they were on an earthly sojourn or journey after death. When pilgrims travel for religious reasons, they are sometimes referred to as “pilgrims” or “holy travelers.

Pilgrims is a university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This school was established by the first colonists of America and has since expanded to become one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. The average student attending this university earns an annual income of $69,000 after graduation which makes it very attractive for incoming students. Of course, not every student that attends Pilgrims comes from such wealthy backgrounds but their education will help them achieve financial success later on in life. Students who attend this school are often ones who want to do better than their parents before they did. They want to climb up another social class or even set out on their path as entrepreneurs instead of following traditional careers paths like so many other people do today. 

What Are Puritans? 

The puritans were a group of people who came to America from England in the 1620s. They wanted to create a community that was more religious and less worldly than anything they had experienced back home, so they established their colony. For this new society to be successful, the puritans would have to go against their old customs and beliefs, which is exactly what they did.

The puritans were a group of people in the English Reformation who wanted to completely reform the Church of England. They wanted to rid it of all trappings, images, and ceremonies that they found displeasing. The puritans believed in predestination which meant that God had already decided whether or not an individual would be saved. This meant that no amount of good works could save someone; only faith in Christ was necessary for salvation.

Puritans were a religious group of people who believed that the church and state should be separate. They followed strict rules and believed in moral purity, self-discipline, and hard work. Puritans also had strict laws against things like gambling, drinking alcohol, dancing, or even playing games.

10 Differences Between Pilgrims And Puritans

Purity: Puritans wanted to purify the Church of England from within, while pilgrims left.

Persecution: Pilgrims were fleeing persecution in Europe and wanted a place where they could worship freely.

Assets: Puritans had more money than pilgrims – for example, they could afford to buy land and build a house.

Educated: Puritans were more educated than their pilgrim counterparts.

Settlers: The first group of settlers that came over on the Mayflower in 1620 was made up primarily of puritans.

Migrated: In New England, many people who migrated there from other parts of America were also Puritans.

Sabbath: Puritans were strict about the observance of the Sabbath.

View: Pilgrims had a different view on what was considered “sinful”.

Belief: Puritans believed in predestination, while pilgrims didn’t.

Trends: The Puritans’ religious views tended to be more orthodox than those of the pilgrims.

Interesting Statistics Or Facts Of  Pilgrims 

1. The first pilgrims to arrive in America were the Pilgrims, who arrived on December 11, 1620.

2. About half of all pilgrims died during their journey to America.

3. Some of the most famous pilgrimages are the Hajj pilgrimage and the Kumbha Mela.

4. The word “pilgrim” comes from an old English word meaning “to travel.

5. A pilgrimage is a journey or search of moral significance.

6. Many religions have some form of pilgrimage tradition, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

7. The pilgrims were in search of religious freedom.

8. The pilgrims had a sense of unity and community.

9. They left England because they felt persecuted for their beliefs.

10. Many people died during the journey to America.

Conclusion About The Differences Between Pilgrims And Puritans

The pilgrims and puritans were two groups of people who had very different ideas about the way that they wanted to build their colonies in America. The Puritans believed that it was important for them to have a religious community where everyone shared the same beliefs. They left England because they did not agree with the views of King James I, but once they arrived in America some wished to join more orthodox churches rather than start their church communities. On the other hand, some believed that it was important for them to be able to practice whatever religion they chose without persecution from others. This is why some decided to form separate colonies where there would be no established church memberships or mandatory attendance at services being held by ministers of any particular faith or denomination. 

The two groups are often seen as opposites, but there are many similarities between pilgrims and puritans. Both groups were religious, seeking to create a society that was righteous by God’s standards. Pilgrims came to America to escape persecution for their faith while the puritans came because they wished to establish a pure church here on earth. The Puritans also believed in living simply and separating themselves from worldly pleasures, which is similar to what the pilgrims did when they sailed across the ocean with just the clothes on their backs. 

References:

Resource 01: https://plimoth.org/for-students/homework-help/who-were-the-pilgrims
Resource 02: https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/puritans.html

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