Today it was discussed how most Puritans have a seemingly righteous outward shell, while internally they are much more flawed. I cannot help but notice that many in today's world are just like this. The darker fundamental principles that guide the Puritans seem to have changed little in 300-400 years. Do you think that people in school are still governed by their shells and not themselves? Have we learned to accept people for their flaws? Often we consider ourselves to be so far beyond the Puritans due to our intellectualism and progressive tendencies, but while the environment in which our civilizations live are completely different, are we all that different as people? Certainly proper Puritan ideals conflict with how many of them actually were, making them seem hypocritical, but how often to we conflict with our own ideals?
Michael Q
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6 comments:
I agree that we haven't changed much, but that is because we are all human. Our basic nature is essentially the same.
I do believe that many of us live by our "shells," even if some do so less than others. Sometimes, even though a person may hold certain ideals, in the face of criticism or harsh judgment, he or she may twist their views to seem more acceptable by their company without even really realizing it. I think that this is because humans desperately want to fit in somewhere. We are social beings and we need to be part of a group. This is a very human trait, and so, again, sometimes we will alter our outward appearance so others will approve and we will be accepted and feel we belong somewhere without doing so intentionally (though sometimes we do mean to do it and are fully aware that we are twisting the truth). Keep in mind, though, that this is not to say that some people don't fight this urge. Many people also make a concious effort to stay true to themselves and who they want to be, rather than who others want them to be. However, this is not the natural reaction for most people and so they have to try, to make a point of holding their ground when others judge them, and some have to try harder than others. There are probably more people like this today than there were in the Puritans' days, considering their society was far more repressive than ours is and there were harsher or moer extreme consequences for intentionally standing out and being the different one.
~Olivia
I absolutely concur with that idea - humans are humans, and there is always a level of hypocrisy pervading every shell. The reason we remember Puritans as such is that they claimed to maintain such righteousness. Those who claim to be of a higher status and frankly act better than others will be judged more harshly. It would seem natural for people to pour over the puritans' lives, looking for faults, because there aren't supposed to be many. Just as our society hates someone who outwardly holds themselves in a holier than thou attitude, people today will scrutinize such types from centuries past.
When we discuss the Puritan values in class, it is evident that most of us are astounded when they realize how strict of a society these people lived in. They were so determined to conceal their true human nature through the repression of feeling and emotion with a disguise or as Mike described it a "shell" that they used to fool their neighbors that they too were good citizens that they eventually caved into the constant pressures of being perfect at all times. While being perfect for the Puritans meant being as pious as possible, today, 300 years after the era of the Puritans, we are hiding behind shells of our own. In today's society, one is constantly judged on the way they present themselves. People are forced to dress a certain way to "appear" successful. They must act a certain way to "appear" sophiscticated. They must look a certain way to "appear" beautful. However, although they may disguise themselves to look financially successful, smart, and beautiful in order to fit in with the people around them, just like the Puritans, they may be hiding the person they truly are.
It is amusing to hear people so shocked when they hear about how the Puritans acted in order to be accepted as good citizens when today, we are not all that different: we too want to be part of the group and if it means hiding who we truly are, many are willing to go to that length.
-Julie S
Which then relates to our question of the difference between acting and being, don't you think? (I would go into more depth here, but I just explained my ideas on this topic in today's minutes)
~Olivia
I believe one of the main problems that forces humans to live under a false shell is that human society sets the bar way too high. Our rigid codes of conduct, appearance, and beliefs force us to live as an ideal human when no one can possibly match that standard. I agree with the thought that this is due to the fact that humans want to feel socially accepted and be part of the larger group. People with abstract beliefs/appearances (which are not accepted to be the social norm) are typically shunned from society not accepted as different.
-Tyler H
I agree that in nature we are still the same, we still try to give the appearance that we have only good intentions. However, I feel that now we are not quite as concerned about this as the Puritans.
It is not that we don't care about how people perceive us because, as Olivia said, we fear criticism. But I do think that in today's society it has become more acceptable to have some more selfish intentions.
For example, when we see people with a lot of financial success while we may frown upon them not giving back to the community, we also may admire their drive and hard work-despite only doing it for themselves.
-Kelsey
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