ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -The Puritans saw God as the awesome Father-God of the Old Testament and emphasized His majesty, righteousness, and control of the universe to achieve His just ends. God’s maintaining and directing everything in the universe is God’s Providence.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Puritans believed God had chosen a few people, “the elect, ” for salvation. The rest of humanity was condemned to eternal damnation. But no one really knew if he or she was saved or damned; Puritans lived in a constant state of spiritual anxiety, searching for signs of God’s favor or anger.

Detailed explanation-3: -Traditional theism holds that God is the creator of heaven and earth, and that all that occurs in the universe takes place under Divine Providence-that is, under God’s sovereign guidance and control. According to believers, God governs creation as a loving father, working all things for good.

Detailed explanation-4: -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.

Detailed explanation-5: -Judgmental God (rewards good/punishes evil) Predestination/Election (salvation or damnation was predetermined by God) Original Sin (humans are innately sinful, tainted by the sins of Adam & Eve; good can be accomplished only through hard work & self-discipline) Providence. God’s Grace.