Final answer:
The sign of the new covenant in the New Testament is baptism, not circumcision, making the initial statement false. Predestination suggests that salvation or d_amnation is determined from birth, which can be seen as true depending on the theological interpretation. In Puritan religion, while there were roles based on gender, it is false to say that only men could participate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement claiming that in the New Testament, the sign of participating in the new covenant is circumcision is false. In the Old Testament, specifically in the Jewish faith, circumcision was the sign of the Covenant between God and Abraham, symbolizing the chosen people's relationship with God. When Christianity emerged, with Jesus' teachings and the New Testament, the sign of the new covenant became baptism rather than circumcision. This covenant was marked not by physical marks on the body, but by a spiritual renewal and acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
Predestination is a doctrine that suggests that all events have been willed by God, usually concerning the eventual fate of the individual's soul. According to this doctrine, it is held that God has already chosen who will be saved (the elect) and who will be d_amned, and this decision is not contingent upon an individual's earthly life or choices. Therefore, strictly speaking, the statement that a person is saved or d_amned from the time of his birth can be considered true in the context of certain interpretations of predestination, although various theological traditions may have differing views on this.
The Puritan religion, a significant Protestant reform movement, had specific features such as mandatory close reading of scripture, requiring a conversion narrative for church membership, and emphasizing literacy. However, it is false that only men could participate in the Puritan religion. Both men and women were part of the congregation, although there were certainly gender-specific roles and restrictions.