Religion In North American Colonies And The Struggle Of The Two Strands Of Political Thought

Since colonial times in America, democratic political thought and conservative political thought have continuously battled. However, at this time, these two strands of thought were still in their initial stages, they had not formed a complete theoretical system, but had a strong religious flavor and were largely influenced by Protestantism. The religious thoughts and practices of these colonial times embodied the struggle of these two political thoughts. This struggle affected all aspects of American social life and greatly influenced it. It also laid the foundation for the future development of American political thought.This article aims to delve into the religious background of immigration, how religion influenced the North American colonies. It will also look at the struggle of the two political strands of thought in religious thought and practices and why early religious thought and practices in North American colonies produced a great influence on political thought. In addition, it will look at why religious influence gradually decreased after the 18th century. Finally, it will deeply expound upon the struggle of the two kinds of political thoughts in North American colonial times and their intensions and roots.In the process of this research, I have used overlapping methods to draw lessons from the research methods and results of internal and external religious studies, philosophy, political science, social studies, and other disciplines. I have also concretely and deeply elaborated on the struggle of the two kinds of political thought in North American colonial times and the function of the religious factors in this struggle. The full text can be divided into three parts:The first part deals with the influence of religion in the North American colonies. Initially, it gives the religious background of the North American colonial immigrants. Their most important reason for immigrating being that they were trying to avoidEuropean political and religious persecution in order to set up ' the City upon the Hill'. In addition to this reason, they were influenced by the Puritan leaders. Secondly, it introduces the religious situation and characteristics in North American colonial times. The three main characteristics are: numerous denominations, but none of them can occupy a dominant position for an extended period of time; the leading role of Protestantism; the small number of sincere religious believers. Finally, it discusses the religious influence on the North American colonies.The second part examines the struggle of the two political strands of thoughts in religious thoughts and practices of these colonial times. It also looks at the most important factors of democracy and improvement, focusing on the following: the non-punctilious mentality, the covenant theory , equality, separation of church and state, religious freedom, the self-government of the local church, and the limits of the government. In addition, it looks at the democratic and conservative factors; the most important aspects being: aristocracy and theocratic oligarchy. However, democratic factors, has more aspects than both conservative and non-democratic factors. Moreover, in the religious practices of North American colonial times, the conservative elements were gradually cast aside by the people. Nevertheless, the factors of democracy gradually developed. This paved the way for the development of a systematic framework of American political thought and laid a foundation for the development of American bourgeois democracy.The third part states that prior to the 18th century, the struggle of the two strands of political thought in the North American colonies had religious overtones and was greatly influenced by Protestantism. After the 18th century the influence of religious thought on political thought was gradually reduced. It then analyzes the reasons why the religious thought of early colonial times in America greatly influenced political thought and why this influence was gradually reduced.