Puritan views of society and social obligations

Book chapter

Eales, J. 2025. Puritan views of society and social obligations. in: Bremer, F. G., Hughes, A. and Salazar, G. A. (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Puritanism Oxford University Press.
AuthorsEales, J.
EditorsBremer, F. G., Hughes, A. and Salazar, G. A.
AbstractThis chapter examines the complex influences that shaped puritan ideas about society and social obligations between Elizabeth’s reign and the Restoration. Puritans adhered to the commonly held view that social relationships were based on a combination of Christian and Humanist principles, but they regarded their own religious faith as paramount. This placed immense importance on the conscience of the individual and also molded the puritans’ conviction that they were part of an exclusive community within English and later within North American society. Puritans imposed their views on society more widely during both the “Great Migration” to North America from the 1620s and during the Puritan Revolution in England in the 1640s. The Restoration marked a turning point, as royal control was reasserted in both regions, and by the end of the seventeenth century, many of the theories underpinning puritan social views were being replaced by new values based on the growth of commerce and concepts of polite etiquette, rather than religious beliefs.
KeywordsPuritanism; Society; Community; Conscience; Individual; Obligations; Theories
Year2025
Book titleThe Oxford Handbook of Puritanism
PublisherOxford University Press
Output statusPublished
ISBN9780197617854
9780197617823
Publication dates
Online22 Oct 2025
Publication process dates
Deposited03 Nov 2025
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197617823.013.0048
Official URLhttps://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/61391/chapter-abstract/537016076?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Related URLhttps://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/61391
Additional information

Publications router.

JournalThe Oxford Handbook of Puritanism
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/9w859/puritan-views-of-society-and-social-obligations

  • 115
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 16
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Religion in times of war and Republic, 1642-1660
Eales, J. 2017. Religion in times of war and Republic, 1642-1660. in: Hiscock, A. and Wilcox, H. (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Early Modern Literature and Religion Oxford Oxford University Press. pp. 84-101
Anne and Thomas Fairfax and the Vere connection
Eales, J. 2014. Anne and Thomas Fairfax and the Vere connection. in: Hopper, A. and Major, P. (ed.) England's Fortress: New Perspectives on Thomas, 3rd Lord Fairfax Farnham, Surrey Ashgate. pp. 145-168
Female literacy and the social identity of the clergy family in seventeenth-century England
Eales, J. 2013. Female literacy and the social identity of the clergy family in seventeenth-century England. Archaeologia Cantiana. 133, pp. 67-81.
The clergy and allegiance at the outbreak of the English Civil Wars: the case of John Marston of Canterbury
Eales, J. 2012. The clergy and allegiance at the outbreak of the English Civil Wars: the case of John Marston of Canterbury. Archaeologia Cantiana. 132, pp. 83-109.
Forty Years on: Alan Everitt and the community of Kent revisited
Eales, J. 2012. Forty Years on: Alan Everitt and the community of Kent revisited. in: Eales, J. and Hopper, A. (ed.) The County Community in 17th Century England and Wales Hatfield University of Hertfordshire Press.
17th century Canterbury travellers and collectors: the context of the Bargrave Collection
Eales, J. 2008. 17th century Canterbury travellers and collectors: the context of the Bargrave Collection.
National political culture and provincial preaching as a point of contact in early modern England
Eales, J. 2008. National political culture and provincial preaching as a point of contact in early modern England.
Thomas Traherne and royalism: influences and networks
Eales, J. 2008. Thomas Traherne and royalism: influences and networks.
Thomas Wilson and parliament
Eales, J. 2008. Thomas Wilson and parliament.
Women, patriarchy and personal piety in early modern England
Eales, J. 2000. Women, patriarchy and personal piety in early modern England.
Women and chess from N.P. Gerbanyevskaya to Judit Polgar, 1860-1990
Eales, J. 1999. Women and chess from N.P. Gerbanyevskaya to Judit Polgar, 1860-1990.
Kent in the English Civil Wars 1640-1649
Eales, J. 2009. Kent in the English Civil Wars 1640-1649.
Commemorating the 6th of August: The Jesus Day Assize Sermons in Exeter Cathedral
Eales, J. 2009. Commemorating the 6th of August: The Jesus Day Assize Sermons in Exeter Cathedral.
Sir Robert Harley, K. B., (1579-1656) and the 'character' of a puritan
Eales, J. 1989. Sir Robert Harley, K. B., (1579-1656) and the 'character' of a puritan. British Library Journal. 15, pp. 134-157.
Samuel Clarke and the lives of godly women in seventeenth century England
Eales, J. 1990. Samuel Clarke and the lives of godly women in seventeenth century England. in: Sheils, W. and Wood, D. (ed.) Women in the Church Oxford Blackwell.
Puritans and Roundheads: the Harleys of Brampton Bryan and the outbreak of the English civil war
Eales, J. 1990. Puritans and Roundheads: the Harleys of Brampton Bryan and the outbreak of the English civil war. Cambridge, New York Cambridge University Press.
A road to revolution: The continuity of Puritanism, 1559-1642
Eales, J. 1996. A road to revolution: The continuity of Puritanism, 1559-1642. in: Durston, C. and Eales, J. (ed.) The Culture of English Puritanism, 1560-1700 London, UK Macmillan. pp. 184-209
Women in Early Modern England, 1500-1700
Eales, J. 1998. Women in Early Modern England, 1500-1700. London, UK Routledge.
Politics and ideology in Kent, 1558-1640
Eales, J. 2000. Politics and ideology in Kent, 1558-1640. in: Zell, M. (ed.) Early Modern Kent, 1540-1640 Suffolk, UK Boydell and Brewer.
Community and disunity: Kent and the English Civil Wars, 1640-1649
Eales, J. 2001. Community and disunity: Kent and the English Civil Wars, 1640-1649. Whitstable, UK Keith Dickson Books.
The rise of ideological politics in Kent, 1558-1640
Eales, J. 2000. The rise of ideological politics in Kent, 1558-1640. in: Zell, M. (ed.) Early Modern Kent, 1540-1640 Woodbridge, Suffolk Boydell and Brewer. pp. 279-314
Kent in the Civil Wars and Commonwealth, 1642-1660
Eales, J. 2004. Kent in the Civil Wars and Commonwealth, 1642-1660. in: Lawson, T. and Killingray, D. (ed.) An Historical Atlas of Kent Chichester Phillimore.
An ancient mother in our Israel: Mary, Lady Vere
Eales, J. 2010. An ancient mother in our Israel: Mary, Lady Vere. in: Harris, J. and Scott-Baumann, E. (ed.) The Intellectual Culture of Puritan Women, 1558-1680 Basingstoke, UK Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 84-95
Kent and the English Civil Wars, 1640-1649
Eales, J. 2008. Kent and the English Civil Wars, 1640-1649. The Journal of Kent History. 66, pp. 2-5.
"So many sects and schisms": religion in Kent, 1640-1660
Eales, J. 2006. "So many sects and schisms": religion in Kent, 1640-1660. in: Durston, C. and Maltby, J. (ed.) Religion in Revolutionary England Manchester University Press. pp. 226-248
Provincial preaching and allegiance in the First English Civil War, 1640-1646
Eales, J. 2002. Provincial preaching and allegiance in the First English Civil War, 1640-1646. in: Cogswell, T., Cust, R. and Lake, P. (ed.) Politics, Religion and Popularity in Early Stuart Britain: Early Stuart Essays in Honour of Conrad Russell Cambridge University Press. pp. 185-210
Patriarchy, puritanism and politics: The letters of Lady Brilliana Harley (1598-1643)
Eales, J. 2001. Patriarchy, puritanism and politics: The letters of Lady Brilliana Harley (1598-1643). in: Daybell, J. and Brown, C. (ed.) Women's Letters and Letter Writing in England, 1450-1700 London Palgrave. pp. 143-158
Kent and the English Civil Wars, 1640-1660
Eales, J. 2001. Kent and the English Civil Wars, 1640-1660. in: Lansberry, F. (ed.) Government and Politics in Kent 1640-1914 Woodbridge, Suffolk Boydell and Brewer. pp. 1-32
Thomas Pierson and the transmission of the moderate Puritan tradition
Eales, J. 1995. Thomas Pierson and the transmission of the moderate Puritan tradition. Midland History. 20, pp. 75-102.
Iconoclasm, iconography and the altar in the English civil war
Eales, J. 1992. Iconoclasm, iconography and the altar in the English civil war. in: Wood, D. (ed.) The Church and the Arts: Papers read at the 1990 Summer Meeting and the 1991 Winter Meeting of the Ecclesiastical History Society Oxford, UK; Cambridge Mass., USA Blackwell.