Final answer:
Pilgrims, Puritans, and Quakers were all English Protestant groups with distinct beliefs and practices, all prioritizing religious freedom but differing in their approach to faith, church authority, and societal structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pilgrims, Puritans, and Quakers: Understanding the Differences
The question of whether one would rather be a Pilgrim, Puritan, or Quaker touches upon some significant historical differences among these English Protestant groups, all of which sought religious freedom but diverged in beliefs and practices.
The Pilgrims, known for founding Plymouth Colony in 1620, were separatists who believed that the Church of England could not be reformed and thus chose to practice their Calvinist faith independently. As a result of persecution, they migrated to Holland and eventually to America where they established their own congregational church. Their society valued hard work and saw idleness as a sin. William Bradford, the governor of Plymouth, signed the Mayflower Compact which reflected their commitment to a unified community.
The Puritans, in contrast, sought to purify the Church of England from within. They arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and, like the Pilgrims, held Calvinist beliefs. They opposed many Catholic practices such as the use of stained glass in churches, robes for ministers, and the sign of the cross. They emphasized the importance of a "calling",which included living a godly life and contributing to the needs of the society with diligence and dedication.
The Quakers, or the Society of Friends, founded by George Fox, stressed the inner light in everyone and emphasized personal religious experience over formal sacraments and liturgy. They met in quiet contemplation and believed in radical social equality, rejecting distinctions of rank and even giving men and women equal rights within the church. They settled in Pennsylvania under the leadership of William Penn and were known for their social harmony and egalitarian practices.