ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Puritan

Imagine you're playing a game with your friends, but your mom tells you that you have to follow certain rules. No shouting, no running inside, and no jumping on the couch. She wants you to be very quiet and sit still. This is kind of what it was like to be a Puritan a long time ago.

Puritans were a group of people who lived in England in the 16th and 17th centuries. They believed that the Church of England was too fancy and corrupt. They wanted to "purify" the church by making it simpler and more focused on God's word.

Puritans dressed very plainly and didn't wear bright colors or fancy clothes. They didn't want to draw too much attention to themselves. They also believed in working hard and being disciplined. They read the Bible a lot and went to church every week.

Puritans were also very strict about how people should behave. They believed that anything fun or enjoyable was a distraction from God. So, they didn't like dancing or playing sports. They didn't like drinking, smoking, and gambling either. They wanted people to be very serious and focused on God all the time.

In summary, Puritans were people who believed in living a very simple and disciplined life, following strict rules, and being very focused on God. They thought that anything fun or enjoyable was a distraction from their religious duties.