Role of Religion

Religion played an important role in Puritan life. Puritans felt as if they were chosen by god and had to live everyday in a god-fearing manner. Every man, woman, and child was expected to attend the meeting on the Sabbath without question. Preparations for the Sabbath began the day before. No labor, not even sewing, could be done on the Sabbath. Everything had to be prepared on Saturday. The Sabbath began at sundown on Saturday and that evening was spent in prayer and Bible study.The Bible showed their religious discipline and had to read it everyday. If they didn't read the Bible, it was thought that they were worshiping the devil. If they were accused of this, terrible things can occur.The church was usually very small. The men sat on one side, the women sat on the other, and the boys did not sit with their parents, but sat together in a designated pew where they were expected to sit in complete silence.The service began with a prayer given by the minister that usually lasted around an hour. Puritans did not like music in their services. They did not allow music in their services, they thought it was very inappropriate. The minister's sermon would last for two, three, even four hours at a time without restroom breaks or intermissions.