The English Reformation and the Puritans
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The word Puritan is often misused today. As Dr. Reeves notes, it is often used to derogatorily. H.L. Mencken called Puritanism "the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy." This abusive description is nothing new, as it was originally used during the reign of Elizabeth. Within the non-specific Protestantism she espoused, people generally considered the fanatics to be the anti-Protestant papist on one side and the precisionist Puritan on the other. At the other end of the spectrum, some today view Puritanism unrealistically as the only ideal expression of Christianity. This lesson paints a faithful picture of Puritanism, especially in relation to its convictions.
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Michael Reeves
Dr. Michael Reeves is president and professor of theology at Union School of Theology in the United Kingdom. He is the featured teacher for the Ligonier teaching series The English Reformation and the Puritans. He is author of many books, including The Unquenchable Flame, Delighting in the Trinity, and Rejoice and Tremble.
