Christianity And The New World - 2275 Words

As once written by a famous reverend, Early American Puritans aimed to â€Å"†¦write the wonders of the Christian religion, flying from the deprivation of Europe, to the American Strand† (Manther 75). Although this idea of a Christian utopia in the New World was first imagined several hundred years ago, its impact is still present. Since the time that the Puritans first began their memorable legacy in the early seventeenth century, ideas towards Christianity in the United States have significantly changed due to the diversity in civilization, politics, and religion that have developed over a time period of almost 240 years. The harsh and often domineering laws of the Puritans led to its breakup several years later. However, this division led†¦show more content†¦The Puritans used this to beg the congregation to ask for forgiveness and turn away from their sins. They did this is an attempt to restore Puritanism and faith in God. Today, though not used in a m anner as harsh as the Puritans, messages from the Jeremiads are still preached in the State of the Union addresses and on the Fourth of July. For example, the ideas of being aware of enemies, rejecting corruption, and working together to achieve superiority above other nations are commonplace in these addresses today. However, the idea that is most present is Manifest Destiny. Established by the Puritans, Manifest Destiny is the concept that Americans have a divine responsibility to spread their beliefs and boundaries as far as they can. In the State of the Union address in 2011, President Obama stated that â€Å"we have to make America the best place on earth† and that the United States needs to continue â€Å"maintaining our leadership.† In addition, the President said that â€Å"may God bless the United States of America.† Similarly, the famous Puritan leader known as John Winthrop shared a similar message in his â€Å"The City upon a Hill† sermo n in 1630. Referring to the Puritans and people of the New World, he said that â€Å"†¦we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.† Though Winthrop would not live to see the larger impact of these words, his ideas and the beliefs of his people would