A new study reveals that the value system of early colonists, which links hard work, conservative sexual behavior, and spiritual salvation, still has a hold on Americans’ psyches. Contemporary American culture suggests that our ancestors’ Puritan values have influenced American values such as individualism, democracy, hard work, and freedom. Puritanism’s legacy endures in modern America, emphasizing the Protestant work ethic, personal responsibility, and the right to practice their faith freely.
Puritans live and thrive in every area of society, including churches, governments, and homes. One of these shared values is individualism and religious freedom, which originated from Puritan ideals. The Puritans believed in the importance of personal religious convictions and the right to practice their faith freely. Many Americans have adopted the Puritan ethics of honesty, responsibility, hard work, and self-control.
Puritan values continue to guide us, regardless of our religious beliefs. They include a direct relationship between god and people, which doesn’t exist in Catholicism, and election and predestination by God (God’s Grace). Much value on Puritan culture influences contemporary behavior and beliefs when we see book bannings and an assault on the separation of church and state.
The Puritan “values” shape more of our political, social, and religious tolerance than most people. The value system of the early colonists, which links hard work, conservative sexual behavior, and spiritual salvation, continues to influence modern American values. The theological and cultural legacy of Puritanism continues to shape modern Christian movements and American culture, with connections between Puritan beliefs and contemporary evangelicalism.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Puritan Values in American Society | Many Americans have adopted the Puritan ethics of honesty, responsibility, hard work, and self-control. | www1.udel.edu |
| What values does modern America share with the Puritans … | What values does modern America share with the Puritans? How do these leftover Puritan values make America unique? | gauthmath.com |
| What are some aspects of modern American culture that … | Puritanism refers to · Puritans emphasized a personal experience of salvation by Christ; strict moral discipline and purity as the correct form … | quora.com |
📹 Puritans (The Killjoys of History)
The Puritans were a group behind the religious ideology known as “Puritanism”, a type of early modern Reformed Protestantism …
How Did Puritanism Influence American Values?
American Puritanism emerged from a reform movement within the Church of England, leaving a significant mark on the social, political, ethical, and theological landscape of America. This paper discusses its origins and core tenets, emphasizing its deep-rooted influence on American values. Although the Puritans were few in number among early settlers, their contributions to the young United States were substantial. They championed freedom and wealth, shaping an impactful work ethic, legal principles, and cultural legacies.
By the 17th century, while their political dominance waned, their ideals promoting individualism, democracy, education, and industriousness persisted. With New England under English authority and new European ideas emerging, the Puritan communities adapted yet maintained key beliefs. The legacy of Puritanism continues to resonate today, informing concepts of limited government and a strong moral framework. Their dedication to education fostered a foundational American school system, promoting literacy and civic responsibility.
The Puritan vision of Americans as a "Chosen People" influenced national consciousness and self-perception, shaping the ethos of hard work and communal responsibility. Ultimately, Puritan values significantly contributed to the ethical and spiritual fabric of American society, underscoring the enduring impact of their beliefs.
What Did American Puritans Believe About Wealth?
American Puritans linked material wealth with God's favor, believing that hard work was essential to please Him. Their dedication to self-reliance and thrift shaped the national character, as they viewed material wealth as a sign of divine blessing. Sociologists suggest that this commitment to self-sufficiency, combined with the need for trade, particularly with Native Americans, influenced their economic behaviors. The Puritans, who were industrious farmers, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs, believed in accumulating wealth not for personal indulgence but for communal benefits.
Contrary to modern views of wealth as individual possession, Puritans saw money as a social good, rooted in the theological belief that prosperity indicated God's favor. In Winthrop's 1630 "Model of Christian Charity," he articulated their civil motives for migration: to establish a Bible-centered commonwealth united by Christian principles. Their work ethic significantly contributed to early America's economic success, fostering a survivalist mindset.
The Puritans, part of a late 16th-century religious reform movement, opposed non-biblical practices in the Church of England. Despite their views on wealth and power, they advocated for a more equitable distribution of resources, believing wealth was a divine gift and a reflection of spiritual election. Thus, their economic and social outlook was deeply intertwined with their faith.
What Are Puritan Values In Modern America?
The Puritan focus on education established an American school system that emphasizes basic literacy skills. Their values of honesty, responsibility, hard work, and self-control have been widely adopted by Americans, with recent studies indicating that the early colonists' belief system—linking diligent work, conservative sexual conduct, and spiritual salvation—continues to resonate within American society. Modern American culture often reflects these historical Puritan values, intertwining work, morality, and sexuality in the collective psyche.
Notably, Puritan ideals have impacted contemporary social issues, including book bannings and debates over the separation of church and state. The legacy of Puritanism influences modern Christian movements and shapes American culture, revealing connections between historical beliefs and contemporary evangelical practices. While the Puritan movement is associated with rigid religious tenets, it also laid the groundwork for values of individuality and opportunity, aspects integral to American identity.
The Puritan work ethic contributed significantly to the economic success of early America, fostering a society characterized by survivalism and civic virtue. Despite the evolving nature of American values, the core principles of Puritanism—freedom, education, and moral responsibility—continue to shape the nation’s cultural landscape and governance, highlighting their lasting influence.
Are Puritan Values Still In American Culture?
A recent study highlights the enduring influence of early Puritan values on contemporary American culture, suggesting that ideals linked to hard work, conservative sexual behavior, and spiritual salvation persist in the American psyche. Although modern values differ significantly from those of the Puritans, remnants of their cultural legacy continue to shape societal attitudes and behaviors. Education, emphasized by the Puritans, led to the establishment of the US public school system and high literacy rates.
The Puritan movement, rooted in a reformist agenda within the Church of England, profoundly impacted American social, political, and ethical frameworks. Concepts like freedom and individuality, often seen as antithetical to Puritan rigidity, nonetheless intersect with their values—especially in areas like moralism, which has historically driven social reforms from abolitionism to contemporary justice movements. The Puritan ethos is evident today in debates over church-state separation, book bans, and other cultural dynamics, suggesting a revival of their principles within modern life.
Despite perceptions that Puritan values have been dismissed, their influence remains salient, indicating that American cultural identity still grapples with these early ideologies. Ultimately, the Puritans, though long gone, continue to play a significant role in the shaping of American moral and civic life.
How Do Leftover Puritan Values Make America Unique?
The residual Puritan values play a significant role in shaping the uniqueness of American society. These values emphasize individualism and religious freedom, fostering a diverse culture where people can express their beliefs and pursue personal goals. Such principles contrast sharply with the strict religious rigors associated with Puritanism. The influence of Puritanism is evident in America’s work ethic, moral debates, and the emphasis on education and intellectual pursuits.
While contemporary society may seem to have distanced itself from these values amidst commercialism and rapid wealth accumulation, their impact persists. The origins of American democracy and individualism trace back to Puritan thought. Key values such as honesty, responsibility, and hard work are reflections of this influence, even as America embraces modern ideologies like Darwinism and positivism. Moreover, Puritanism contributed fundamentally to the American concept of limited government.
The notion of Americans as a "chosen people" has shaped national identity and attitudes toward progress. Thus, the legacy of Puritanism remains intricately intertwined with American history, culture, and the ethical framework that governs societal conduct, highlighting an enduring connection between past ideals and contemporary American life.
Are Puritans Around Today?
Though Puritans no longer exist as a distinct group today, their influences remain prevalent in modern American society. Contemporary Puritan-like individuals thrive in various sectors including churches and governments, aiming to assert control over private lives, reminiscent of their seventeenth-century forerunners. The theological and cultural legacy of Puritanism significantly shapes modern Christian movements and American culture, with connections observed between historic Puritan beliefs and today's evangelicalism.
After the Great Awakening, Puritan-bashing became popular, yet recently, parallels have emerged between historical Puritans and modern figures who espouse similar ideologies, particularly in their rigid moral frameworks akin to sharia law in some cultures. Despite modern values diverging from traditional Puritanism, the essence of Puritanical thought endures, affecting contemporary perspectives on issues like abortion and secularism. The Puritans originated as English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries, rejecting what they perceived as lingering Roman Catholic influences in the Church of England.
Although organized Puritan denominations have faded, millions of Americans today can trace their ancestry back to the Puritan migrants of the seventeenth century. This historical significance raises questions about the enduring implications of Puritanism on societal values and the revival of similar ideologies in contemporary culture.
What Is A Puritan Value?
Puritanism, a religious reform movement originating in the late 16th and 17th centuries, aimed to purify the Church of England of Roman Catholic elements. Often misunderstood as a rigid system, Puritanism emphasized values such as freedom, individuality, and opportunity, laying foundational beliefs still visible in American culture today. Puritans, who were originally English Protestant Christians, sought a church aligned strictly with biblical teachings, advocating for personal piety and a strong work ethic. They believed in universal education, ensuring everyone could read the Bible, which highlighted their belief in individual responsibility and moral integrity.
Puritans held strong theological principles, including the importance of a covenant relationship with God for redemption. This belief fostered a way of life that respected community, hard work, and ethical conduct. Through their emphasis on family life and societal reform, Puritan values contributed to the development of the American ethos of diligence and responsibility. Despite their strict nature, they valued artistic expression, particularly poetry.
The legacy of Puritanism continues to influence contemporary evangelical movements and American culture, underscoring the interplay between religion and the values that define modern society. Overall, the Puritans instilled essential moral values that remain significant in American life today.
What Values Does Modern America Share With The Puritans Quizlet?
Modern America shares certain values with the Puritans, notably their pursuit of freedom from tyranny. While the Puritans sought religious independence from the Church of England, contemporary America prioritizes political freedom and democracy. Elements of Puritanism are still evident in modern American life, underscoring its enduring influence. Key aspects of Puritan values that resonate today include hard work, individual responsibility, individualism, and religious freedom, originating from Puritan ideals. The Puritan movement, emerging in the late 16th and 17th centuries, sought to refine the Church of England by eliminating non-Biblical practices.
Puritan values have significantly shaped the social and legal frameworks of America, contributing to a unique national character defined by a sense of mission and civic responsibility. Their emphasis on virtues like harmony, public service, and moral rigor laid the foundation for modern American governance. The idea of a direct relationship with God, along with concepts like predestination, also distinguishes Puritan beliefs.
However, some aspects of contemporary society appear to contradict Puritanical strictness. Ultimately, the Puritans' legacy remains a critical part of America’s identity, emphasizing values that continue to influence its culture and institutions.
What Did The Puritans Do In America?
The Puritans established the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628, north of the earlier Plymouth Colony founded by the Pilgrims. Driven by the desire to create a community governed by God's laws, the Puritans believed that adherence to religious statutes would ensure divine protection. Emerging from a late 16th and 17th-century religious reform movement, Puritanism profoundly influenced the original thirteen English colonies in North America, particularly New England.
Following the Pilgrims' arrival in the 1620s, waves of Puritans immigrated in the 1630s, laying the groundwork for new self-governing institutions and churches. Their beliefs, rooted in John Calvin's reformed theology, emphasized the supremacy of God, a literal interpretation of Scripture, and simplicity in worship.
As a significant cultural force, the Puritans established multiple colonies including Saybrook, Connecticut, and New Haven, while settlers with dissenting views created Rhode Island. The Puritans sought refuge from religious intolerance and political oppression in England, aspiring to build a society focused on religious freedom for themselves, albeit not for others. Their diligent work ethic shaped their economic success, contributing greatly to the foundational values of America.
Life was demanding in the Puritan Commonwealth, but those who adhered to divine laws found peace. Their efforts not only affected English society but also shaped the moral and cultural identity of early America, fostering a lasting influence.
What Four Things Did The American Puritans Come To Value?
The Puritans, a reform movement from the late 16th century, sought to purify the Church of England's practices not grounded in the Bible. They valued religious freedom, community governance, education, and hard work, which were essential in establishing Plymouth. Their strong beliefs created a stable society, influencing American ethics of honesty, responsibility, and self-control—qualities that many Americans still embrace today. However, their influence waned after the 17th century.
The Puritans fostered values of self-reliance, industriousness, temperance, and simplicity, framed within a covenant between humanity and God that dictated their governance upon arrival in the New World.
Their writings emphasized spiritual calling, community order, and literacy. While the Puritan ethos contrasts with modern American ideals of freedom and individuality, their legacy shaped the nation’s foundation, especially regarding limited government. The Great Migration (1620-1640) saw many Puritans immigrating for religious freedoms, establishing a society rooted in accountability, moral reform, and democratic principles.
They saw the church as strong when it maintained sound preaching, sacraments, and congregational autonomy. Ultimately, the Puritans laid the groundwork for an exceptional nation, their teachings remaining relevant in various facets of American culture and governance today.
What American Values Can Be Traced To The Puritans?
The seventeenth-century Puritans significantly shaped American values, including a strong sense of mission, work ethic, and moral principles. Approximately eight million Americans descend from the fifteen to twenty thousand Puritans who migrated to New England from 1629 to 1640. Their influence persists today, promoting individualism, personal responsibility, and entrepreneurship. The Puritan ethos emphasizes stewardship, highlighting the relationship between economic success and community well-being. While their values positively and negatively impacted society, they remain relevant in modern American culture and Christian movements.
Puritanism stemmed from a reformative desire within the Church of England, impacting social, political, and theological ideas that underlie American democracy and governance. The emphasis on harmony, virtue, and public service formed the traditional American foundation for liberty. Puritan values fostered a culture of hard work, discipline, and personal integrity, often termed the "Protestant work ethic."
Though their strict religious beliefs might contrast with contemporary notions of freedom and individuality, the character of American society—marked by hard work and thrift—was undeniably influenced by Puritan ideals. The Puritans believed in a close connection between material wealth and divine favor, which further motivated their diligence. Thus, the legacy of Puritanism remains integral to American identity and character.
What Are The Tenets Of Puritanism?
This paper examines the impact of Puritanism on American values, tracing its origins as a reform movement within the Church of England beginning in the 1530s. Puritanism arose from the English Reformation and sought to eradicate any Catholic remnants in the Church. The term "Puritan" initially served as a term of derision, though it later came to represent a strict Calvinist denomination emphasizing a personal and intense religious experience. The Puritans' key theological beliefs included predestination, original sin, and the need for a covenant relationship with God for salvation, principles derived from the Ten Commandments.
Puritans considered themselves a "chosen people," destined to establish a moral society in the New World, greatly influencing the development of American identity. Their fervent beliefs led to tensions with the crown and the Anglican Church, contributing to civil unrest in England and the founding of colonies in America. With a profound emphasis on religious doctrine, societal reform, and moral discipline, Puritan society intertwined church and state, creating a culture dominated by religious values.
The Puritans upheld the significance of hard work, self-discipline, and community piety, which have become enduring aspects of American ethos. Understanding their beliefs provides valuable insights into the historical roots of American culture and identity.
📹 Puritanism (an overview)
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Man simple history never fails to educate us on lots of history events through animation. Great job man you’ve never fail to amaze me with these story’s and animation’s and also the fact that despite the ways YouTube tries to screw you over you still keep moving forward which I commend simple history is that no matter what bs YouTube does to them they keep going and moving forward.
For those who maybe didn’t get the reference, the final picture is a scene from Blackadder season 2 which is a hilarious comedy starring Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) and Hugh Laurie (Dr House) for the most famous of them. They find their marks in the first season but they really get funnier as the seasons go by. I really recommend.
Puritans were the first group of people in history to ban slavery. The Plymouth Colony actually arrested a ship in the 1600s that arrived to sell slaves. They let them go when they pled ignorance of the law against “Manstealing” but were forced to hand over the slaves. The colony then raised the money to hire a ship to take the newly freed folk wherever they wanted to go. A few decided to stay in Plymouth. This would have been in the 1650s I think?
Should’ve mentioned that it’s a common misconception that the “Pilgrims & Puritans moved to the Americas to escape religious persecution”, as there was NO such persecution at the time. While I know the 2 are different, it’s still best to put it out there. The Pilgrims were “English Puritans who found a nice isolated place to settle in the Netherlands”, but wanted to remain English (saw the Dutch as being like an inferior species) and hated their children growing up to see themselves as Dutch, hence why they left. The Puritans on the other hand left Europe because they saw everyone who didn’t think like them (the majority) as inferior and hated it (that’s an oversimplification of things). Overall, they were the ‘Karens’ of history before it became a thing.
The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England of Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should become more Protestant. Puritanism played a significant role in English history, especially during the Protectorate. Puritans were dissatisfied with the limited extent of the English Reformation and with the Church of England’s toleration of certain practices associated with the Roman Catholic Church. They formed and identified with various religious groups advocating greater purity of worship and doctrine, as well as personal and corporate piety. Puritans adopted a Reformed theology and, in that sense, were Calvinists. In church polity, some advocated separation from all other established Christian denominations in favour of autonomous gathered churches. These Separatist and independent strands of Puritanism became prominent in the 1640s when the supporters of a presbyterian polity in the Westminster Assembly were unable to forge a new English national church. By the late 1630s, Puritans were in alliance with the growing commercial world, with the parliamentary opposition to the royal prerogative, and with the Scottish Presbyterians with whom they had much in common. Consequently, they became a major political force in England and came to power due to the First English Civil War. Almost all Puritan clergy left the Church of England after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 and the 1662 Uniformity Act.
A lot of people in the comments talking a lot but never understanding. Their movement was a response. The things they saw in Europe had them convinced that people had lost the teachings of Christ. So in order to be closer to Him, they gave up much of the worldly pleasures. In particular the things they despised were: 1. The promiscuity of those in power. 2. The wasteful party culture of nobility. 3. Nobles refusing to work for a living. 4. The destruction of family units in divorce 5. The gold and other trappings of the clergy that Christ condemned.
As someone from the Reformed Church (a Presbyterian), I appreciate your efforts to be objective, history-oriented, and neutral – the issue is somewhat volatile, since it is true that some of the Puritans were… nuts. I sense (understandably) some hostilities from the comment section. Thank you for treading the thin ice carefully. Perhaps you should have covered Johnathan Edward as well – though technically he was not a Puritan (he is an 18th Century man) his theology stems from the traditional Reformed Theology and Puritanism. Johnathan Edwards would have been the best man to illustrate ‘what became of the Puritans’.
Catholic Church boarding schools destroyed us Native American Indians while missionaries taught us the truth in the Bible. Read are history book taken out of public schools in the 1970s called THE NEZ PERCE INDIANS AND THE OPENING OF THE NORTHWEST. I believe they took are history book out because it tells you us Indians were searching for the creators words which was the Bible
Fun fact: there are some of these in my family tree. They aren’t dressed as described, but are really sticklers to this stuff, real killjoys they are. And I was forced to their church in order to go to a party of theirs that wasn’t even that good, food sucked, little A/C that kept the place hot, small room, overcrowded, and lasted till somewhere round 3 or 4.
And then the Salem Witch trials happened, but that’s a different story for another day. But long story short, this created the downfall of the Puritans, leaving behind a cautionary tale on what would happen to a society if it’s too strict and zero-tolerant, especially for the sake of religion. Also, religion and state are just like cutting boards. They should be kept separate from each other in order to stop disasters from happening.
The reign of “Blood Mary” is critical in understanding the religious fervor behind Puritanism. Puritans saw themselves as a persecuted remnant, following the early Church, as given in such book’s as Fox’s Book of Martyrs. They saw the North American colonies as a place to establish their own way of life, free from a state church that was ambivalent about the legacy of the Protestant Reformation, and which the Puritans saw more as a tool of statecraft than biblical sanctification.
Last part was a Blackadder reference, only thy who watcheth thou series will understand what that means. Although I cannot go without looking back on the historical significance that the Puritans showed against Roman Catholicism, even being Roman Catholic myself, I think that this is still an important subject even today as it reminds us of the struggles of religion that have affected Billions and billions more to come.
Interesting article and a Stark reminder that short YouTube history animated articles are often heavily biased and full of missing information. If the puritans were still about I would probably call this a propaganda article. FYI I wouldn’t be a puritan if they were around but I can’t stand history told with such a brutally Stark motivation
I draw lots of parallels between woke culture and puritanism. Moral outrage at permissiveness of those not seen as righteous. Pushing for control snd punishment over the other behaviors in society. Puritans were generally annoyed that the Catholics and their culture were being allowed to exist in some way. They’d protest and cancel and scream heresy and pressure the court be less tolerant. When i hear the “if you’re not antiracist you too are a white supremacist” kind of moral outrage, and GenZs wishing for mispronouning to be illegal,, It makes me feel the pendulum is swinging back to a Puritan movement
Imagine missing out on beautiful writings by mature godly men such as John Bunyan, Thomas Watson, John Flavel, Mathew Henry and the like because you believe this slander. Were the puritans perfect? Of course not (neither are you). Were they just kill joys who tried to ruin everything fun? No way. Try reading some of their literature to see how passionate they were, how high they held brotherly love, and most of all, how much they sought God.
Excellent article, and thank you for an honest, and humorous take of “The Puritans”. Yes they left England and Europe for the “new world” and were some of the earliest colonists, if not some of the first colonists I believe in Jamestown. Yes they did deal with persecution in Europe because well, they were “weirdos” by most people’s take. That if you happen to be “enjoying” yourself, no matter what it is, you were on an unrighteous path. That a “good” life was also a miserable one. And who wants to only wear black all the time?
Fun fact Oliver Cromwell was a puritan. And OMFG was he a tyrannical one. He banned pretty much everything he disliked. Many think of Oliver Cromwell as this beacon of English democracy. He really wasn’t after his son failed to keep the army happy they couped him and replaced him with Charles II. Remember parliament was, and arguably still is, the area of political influence relating to wealth. It was as democratic as the soviet union.
Puritans forced their beliefs on others and restricted peoples’ freedoms based on their religious beliefs. They burned more people as witchs for being corrupt and impure than any other faith at the time. Of course they were hated. They were hateful and controlling. Oddly, they had a choice to stay in Europe, they were never kicked out. They chose to leave because they hated life living among the impure.
The puritans of old seek spiritual purity. To be separated from the authority of the earthy church. And to be in direct communion with God. The puritans of today have some resemblance, but they seek spiritual separation. They have no Morality and common sense. Their mantra “everything is permitted, there is no truth but power”.
The Puritans had some of the strongest wills in the history of the world. Imagine being in their shoes in 1618-9. The kingdom from which they fled wants them extradited, and the country they fled to is under threat of invasion from the primary power in Europe. If the country falls, which it very nearly did, the Separatists will be victims of dogmatic annihilation via the Spanish. They have three options- stay and die, stay and change their claims of faith, or flee to the unknown based on the convictions of their beliefs. This is only a decade after the barely functional Jamestown settlement was founded. The men who went to Jamestown were fortune seekers and mercenaries, with no women or children. For a community to up and leave everything they know all for their beliefs and go across the Atlantic on a single ship to the New World is unfathomable. I doubt 1% of anyone living now would dare anything close to that if faced with a similar scenario.
This article made me respect the puritans even more. Seems like they actually took to heart what paul was conveying in his letters to the churches. I really do toss and turn on if their is a “true church” or if jesus is the church in of itself. Cuz when i look at the catholic church i see the pharisees that jesus hated but when i learn about the puritans and other sects of protestants i see alot of similarities with what paul was conveying in his letters… hmmm
Dude you skipped a lot off details for example The King had a state sponsored church that persecuted Puritans. The Pilgrims (who were Puritans) fled to Holland because of persecution. The Puritans wanted to follow the Bible while the State sponsored church did things that were not biblical.The Puritans were not “killjoys” as shown by their literature including : The Author to Her Book; Contemplations; Here Follows some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666; Meditation 6; Huswifeey; God’s Determination; and Upon a Spider Catching a Fly. You probably got your information from The Scarlet Letter which was designed to slander the Puritans. In conclusion I like your content but I will fact check you if you accidentally or purposely put up false information.
tbh when i was perusal this article i tought “What if czech religion had their own article?” since finding the source of why they are rare in Czech Republic to this day seems more complicated and i have no idea why they stopped being religious but if you have free time you could make a article about it.
It dawned on me that at the same time as the Puritans were establishing themselves in North America the Dutch East India Company founded a station on the Cape of Good Hope. Many Dutch settled there and were also Puritans which in time led to the establishment of Apartheid in South Africa. The Afrikaners are known for devout conservative Christianity.
The common teaching about the puritan pilgrims is that they fled religious persecution in England… What is not taught is that the beliefs they were persecuted for were an extremist repressive form of their religion that would rival the Taliban today. England’s monarchy was tired of the constant instability and bloodshed that resulted from such religious extremism so they kicked them out.
Being a native New Englander I always thought it ironic that the most anti Catholic part of the colonies would become the most Catholic states because of successive waves of immigration. Most of my relatives are descended from Puritans and all were raised Catholic. Now New England is secular like Europe.