Renewing Your Mind Elizabeth and the Rise of the Puritans
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Aug 23, 2025 
Michael Reeves, a theology professor and president at Union School of Theology, dives into the fascinating world of the Puritans during Elizabeth I's reign. He discusses how Elizabeth's Protestant reforms sparked a push for deeper changes among devout Christians. The conversation highlights the emergence of Puritan prophesying gatherings, which faced backlash from authorities. Reeves also explores the struggles faced by Puritans in a society that often mocked them, shedding light on their quest for genuine spiritual reform and the resulting cultural conflicts.
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Elizabeth's Middle-Way Settlement
- Elizabeth combined Protestant convictions with political caution to craft a middle-way Church of England.
- Her 1559 settlement aimed for unity under a non-specific English Protestantism rather than strict doctrinal purity.
Prayer Book As Compromise
- The 1559 prayer book intentionally blended Cranmer's 1549 and 1552 versions to avoid alienating factions.
- Elizabeth wanted a distinct English Protestantism that was Protestant but neither strictly Lutheran nor Calvinist.
Conformity Over Conscience
- Elizabeth prioritized outward conformity and national unity over policing private belief.
- She imposed church attendance with fines but claimed she did not want to make 'windows into men's souls.'
