Just an interesting excerpt from a book I'm reading:
[The Puritans] believed that knowledge is one, that life is unified, that science, economics, political theory, aesthetic standards, rhetoric and art, were all organized in a hierarchical scale of values that tended upward to the end-all and be-all of creation, the glory of God. They insisted that all human activity be regulated by that purpose.
The theorists of New England thought of society as a unit, bound together by inviolable ties; they thought of it not as an aggregation of individuals but as an organism, functioning for a definite purpose, with all parts subordinate to the whole, all members contributing a share, every person occupying a particular status.
That seems resonable, actually.
Everyone does have a part to play, everyone does contribute a share. If there were not people who are interested in art, music, history, science, engineering, business, etc. we would have a very empoverished world. Stay-at-home Mom's are contributors. Everyone is a "contributor" of something.
And everyone is dependent on everyone else: the brainsurgeon needs his toilet fixed; the accountant needs the brainsurgeon; the restauranteur needs the accountant as a customer, etc.
We are not an "aggregation of individuals" self-sufficient and disconnected from others.
That's kind of interesting, because our favorite religious order, the Jesuits, can have their spirituality summarized as, "God in all things" and I'd summarize the Puritans as "all things for God".
Cool story but like all cults they end up incredibly violent. Tortured and maimed other Christians, for two...
We should go back to Puritanism. I know about Salem, and I don't promote the burning of people who are alive, so maybe are more compassionate form.
Yeah, well, Puritans saw the world rather black and white, dogmatic. They called of Christmas/ Yule! Bad move!
And no merciful beheadings either.