To: FITZ
Actually, the Puritans were not near as restrained as we think they were; in fact, one man was excommunicated from his church in Boston for refusing to have sex with his wife. Heck, the Pilgrims criticized the Puritans because of their flashy clothes. They did not wear drab black and white like we think. It was only the Pilgrims who wore such austere clothing.
Many houses only had one big room, so kids often would hear their parents having sex etc. The parents would explain to the kids that sex was for adults who were married; the topic of sex was not ignored. It is unfortunate that the true Puritan is only now being realized by scholars, and today's kids are still being taught the old myths of these repressed bunch of fanatics.
And though things like sodomy and adultery were capitol crimes, rarely did they actually result in such a severe punishment. The Puritans were of the mindset that if one confessed and repented, they should have a lesser sentence. Suggest that today and one would be branded a lefty!
91 posted on
02/02/2004 10:51:14 PM PST by
rwfromkansas
("Men stumble over the truth, but most pick themselves up as if nothing had happened." Churchill)
To: rwfromkansas
I think I used the wrong capital.
96 posted on
02/02/2004 10:56:24 PM PST by
rwfromkansas
("Men stumble over the truth, but most pick themselves up as if nothing had happened." Churchill)
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