Through a richly detailed account of the genesis; flowering; and decline of the Puritan ideal of a church of the elect in England and America; Professor Morgan offers an important reinterpretation of a pivotal era in New England history.Historians have generally supposed that the main outlines of the Puritan church were determined in England and Holland and transplanted to the new world. The author convincingly suggests; instead; that the distinguishing characteristic of the New England churches―the ideal of a church composed exclusively of true and tested saints―developed fully only in the 1630's and 1640's; some time after the first settlers arrived in New England. He also examines the influence of the Separatist colony at Plymouth on the later settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; and follows the difficulties created by a definition of the religious community so selective that the New England churches nearly expired for lack of saints to fill them.
#1342898 in Books Lisa M Bitel 1994-02-24Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.03 x .68 x 6.07l; .87 #File Name: 0801481570268 pagesIsle of the Saints Monastic Settlement and Christian Community in Early Ireland
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good information for research.By Gloria MitchellI am doing research on monastic life in Ireland and Scotland. It is very helpful.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A Good Early History of IrelandBy J - and then someI find this book to be one that I have often gone back to; as a resource. It is well written; easily read; and covers a good deal of early Christian Ireland. I do have one complaint; however; most of these books rest on the written word; and it would be wonderful to see a book that had illustrations that would show what some of the early Christian communities looked like. I haven't found that book yet; but I'm still looking. However; all in all; this book was very helpful.2 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A Bit Off-BaseBy SaintMEOverall; I think Bitel decently presents her argument well and does her best to support it. However; she seems to have a somewhat idealistic view of the period. Her grasp of the social forces at play is weak; and at points she presents as facts concepts that have long been disproved or contested by historians.While not always accurate; Bitel's "History" may be the one many are comfortable believing to be true.
