When you hear the word Puritan, what comes to mind?

We'll correct some of the stereotypes and misrepresentations next on renewing your mind.

When we study the history of Christianity in America, we can't miss the periodings.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of negative stereotypes attached to them,

but since they are such a vital part of our history, we need to know what they believed.

Let's find out as Dr. Stephen Nichols continues his latest teaching series,

Christianity in America.

When we were talking about the roots of American Christianity,

and one of those roots, of course, is the New England Puritans.

So we're going to spend this time with you talking about the Puritans.

Who were the Puritans?

Now, as we get into this, we have to deal with first

what are the perceptions of the Puritans, especially in American culture.

Where we are right now, where we find ourselves,

our understanding of the Puritans largely comes to us mediated through a few things.

One of them, and you might recall reading this back in a high school literature class,

or in a college literature class, is Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.

And of course, as you read that story, you come across this notion

that the Puritans are self-righteous hypocrites.

Right?

The hero of the story is the one who is ostracized from the Puritan community.

The one who's marginalized and doesn't fit in,

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