Last class we were discussing about what we think happened in Salem. It was brought up that people truly believed and breathed their religious values, as they had no exposure to anything else.

This led me to reflect on the impact of my religious upbringing. I went to Catholic school my entire life. We went to Church three times a week (one on Sunday, and twice during the week with the entire school). Mass was a comforting but tedious experience for me, at least in the early years before high school. It was always hot, crowded, children screaming, incense heavy, and had lectures droning on. 

I expect that mass in Salem was a similar experience, but more intense. At that time, most of the preaching is focused on what not to do: disassociate with sin, avoid the devil, resent evil etc. All that focus on the horror and flames of hell has to affect the psychology of a person, especially impressionable young children. I have talked about the malleable minds of children and vulnerable people in my last post. 

I remember my church had more emphasis on the love of God and Jesus, which at the time felt distant and intangible. But I also could not imagine believing any other religion. Once I got older, I had more negative experiences with religion on an organizational and interpersonal basis. My falling out with religion had almost nothing to do with spiritual values. I still love and embrace the kindness, respect, and empathy of Christian values. I took classes in high school on Christian morality and Catholic social teaching, and it was completely life changing. 

I know (most) Puritans believed in their religion with good, kind intentions. The fear of the devil and threats to their religious identity compelled them to do terrible things. Some of them simply just did not know any better or what to do.