The modern graduate of our government-controlled schools knows little about the Puritans of the 17th century (except of course that they were a cheerless and superstitious folk who dressed in black, persecuted witches, and once invited some Indians to Thanksgiving dinner). This ignorance is emblematic of our present difficulties. What is "known" about the Puritans serves only to reinforce the perception that serious Christians are strange and dangerous people who ought to be kept in cages and never let out without strict supervision.

Unaccountably, the view of the Puritans is not much more complementary in many "Christian" history books. It would not be at all surprising if some readers of this magazine have latent suspicions of things "Puritan." Together, these realities demand that we take a fresh look at the Puritans.