Remember Tocqueville’s American good/great analysis? What if the pilgrims were actually escaping Satanic pedos, and Cotton Mathers’ witch over-kill was a statement, we will have NONE of that, that which we just escaped? Remember ‘wildings’ on the English Christian peasant class that pushed them to revolt?
I would say there is a good chance of it because just to say “because they were superstitious” is inadequate to explain people going to the lengths of MURDER, and gruesome murder at that to ward it off.
>>What if the pilgrims were actually escaping Satanic pedos, and Cotton Mathers’ witch over-kill was a statement, we will have NONE of that, that which we just escaped?<<
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I saw this interesting thought when you floated it earlier.
It’s on my list of things to look into. Please let me know if you have some sources.
...‘wildings’ on the English Christian peasant class that pushed them to revolt?
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Standard monarchical operating procedure.
In the Jewish villages of pre-19th century Russia, the Czars would ramp up the Christian peasants, especially around Easter/Passover, with blood libel rants and let them take it out on the Jews. In other areas, they ‘allowed’ the Mongols/Tartars to rape, pillage and loot those Jewish villages. Children were taken, to be raised as other than Jewish and for whatever other purposes.
One reason for Jewish distrust of Christians, BTW. The Czars were Orthodox Catholic. The Jews made no distinctions as to Christian sect.
Also, Jewish villages had a set human tithe of young males for the Czars’ armies. Military service meant no practice of Judaism and probable death for the boys. Czar wanted healthy soldiers, so the boys would be minimally maimed (finger amputation or breaking a limb and not setting it)in order to be rejected for military service.
IMO, this was the common practice of earlier feudal times. There were conventions among the upper-middle class in England (perhaps other European countries? IDK) where one son who was not the major heir went into the priesthood, one to the military and, if there was a third, into the university system. They may have had a small, inherited stipend, as well. Girls of that class were sent to be ladies-in-waiting to the Queen or the Princesses (along with a dowry? Again: IDK.). Peasant women went “into service” to the nobility. Etc.
Remember, The Colonies (including Australia & Canada, were the destination of a burgeoning English ‘criminal’ class. There were overcrowded prison ships anchored all around England. Scots and Irish were indentured to wealthy Brits who had land grants in the Colonies.
We grew from the rejects of England and Europe. With a common language and religious heritage, there was a distinctly American culture within 1-2 generations.