The Similarities And Differences Between Quakers And Puritans

The Massachusetts Puritans were a group of people who grew unsatisfied with the church of England and they worked towards religious, moral, and societal reforms. The Puritans were an emphasis on the righteousness and sovereignty of God. On the other hand, the Pennsylvania Quakers were a group of people who believed in a more simple and personal way of living, both in their religious principles and in their way of life. Their fundamental belief is that of divine spirit, and that God is in each person, their emphasis in on human goodness. With that said, there are several differences between the Puritans and the Quakers.
First, there was big controversy between original sins and original blessings. The Puritans believed in predestination, the theory that most people were destined for eternal damnation, however, some were chosen by God for salvation. These few people, who were called the “elect” had to participate in a conversion process which included a personal testimony as to how God had changed them. Because of this belief, the Puritans believed that their goal in society was to be a chosen people who were called to create a New Jerusalem. However, the Quakers

The Puritans believed in both baptism and partaking in communion. Also, Puritans services were often long sermons in which the preacher use the text in the Bible to point out the sin of the congregation. On the other hand, the Quakers did not believe in any sacraments such as baptism and communion, instead they considered all acts sacred if the act was committed to God. Additionally, Quakers preferred to call their church services meeting, and their gathering places were referred to as meeting houses. When they were in these meetings, they would come together and wait in silence for God to speak to their spirits. People who could feel the spiritual moved would share what they believed God was communicating to