浅析清教主义对美国价值观的影响_英语论文

Influence of Puritanism on American Ideas of Values

摘要

清教虽起源与英国，但其发展壮大却在美国新英格兰。一六二零年，一大批清教徒移民乘坐五月花号定居新英格兰，因此清教主义中的核心理念，如：全能的上帝、双重预定论、因信称义、天职思想、山巅之城、契约思想在北美大陆发展壮大。并在潜移默化中影响了人们的意识形态，因而在很大程度上影响了美国的经济、教育、政治和文化。他们将这些清教主义的核心理念牢记在心，对现世生活产生了积极地影响。清教徒将物质财富看成选民的重要标志，因此，他们投身于上帝赋予自己的天职。虽然他们看中财富，但在积累财富的过程中清教徒讲究诚信公平原则。并且清教徒将财富看作是暂时为上帝保管的财富，因此不会轻易挥霍。由于清教徒必须通过阅读《圣经》与上帝直接保持联系， 所以，新英格兰地区教育十分发达，也为后来美国成为世界范围内的教育强国打下了基础。本文主要讨论清教主义对美国主流价值观的影响，包括个人主义、重视教育、勤劳致富、强烈的使命感、自由民主。说到政治方面，清教主义推崇的个人平等无疑为美国民主奠定了基础。清教主义中的个人主义也深刻地影响了美国现代家庭价值观。此外，美国人的实用主义也是清教徒在面临新英格兰严酷环境下不可避免地产生的一种重要价值观。总之，清教主义对美国的方方面面产生了深远的影响。本文主要介绍清教主义的产生及来源以及它对美国经济、教育、政治、家庭价值观以及个人主义产生的影响。

关键词：清教主义；美国；价值观；影响

Abstract

Though Puritanism originated in England, it developed and prospered in New England, America. Many puritan immigrants settled in New England in 1620 on Mayflower, making up the main residents in North America. The core concepts of Puritanism of ‘almighty God”, “double pre-destination”, “justification by grace through faith”, “the idea of calling”, “a city upon hill” greatly but unconsciously placed influence on people’s ideology through everyday life. With these core concepts borne in mind, they held a positive attitude towards worldly life. They saw material wealth as a proof of the chosen people, therefore they devoted themselves to “the calling from God” to gain wealth for the honor of God. Though they valued much on wealth, they kept the principle of honesty and fairness in business and they just treat wealth a property of God which was temporarily kept by them. Since they must be able to read Bible, they attached great significance to education, which contributes a lot to the world-renowned American education. When it comes to the political aspect, the idea of equality was undoubtedly stimulated American democracy. Individualism in Puritanism also placed remarkable influence on American family values. In addition, pragmatism in American also came from Puritanism as puritans must handle the harsh realistic environment in New England when they first settled on the new world. All in all, Puritanism shaped the basic features in today’s American economy, education, politics and mainstream culture. This thesis mainly deals with the origin and development of Puritanism and its influence on America in all aspects including its economy, education, politics, family values and pragmatism.

Key words: Puritanism; American; values; influence

Contents

Introduction 1

Chapter One The Origin and the Development of Puritanism 1

Chapter Two Main Contents of Puritanism 4

2.1 Core Concepts of Puritanism 4

2.1.1 Almighty God 4

2.1.2 Double Predestination 4

2.1.3 Piety 5

2.1.4 Covenant 5

2.1.5 Bible was the only authority to explain God’s will. 6

2.2 Social ethics of Puritanism 6

2.3 Economy Ethics in Puritanism 6

2.4 Personal ethics in Puritanism 7

2.5 Political ethics in Puritanism 8

Chapter Three Influence of Puritanism on American Ideas of Values 8

3.1 Influence on American Economy 8

3.2 Influence on American Education 11

3.3 Influence on American Politics 13

3.3.1 Right and Obligation 14

3.3.2 Freedom 14

3.3.3 Equality 15

3.3.4 Political System 15

3.4 Influence on American Family Values 16

3.5 Influence on American Pragmatism 16

Conclusion 17

Bibliography 19

Acknowledgements 20