Rationalist Assignment 1: Differences between Puritans and Rationalist.

While the Puritans believed that God was actively involved in controlling every aspect of their lives, the rationalist believed that after God created the earth he retreated and left it to its own devices. The rationalist rejected the idea of miracles, prophecies, and other supernatural events, along with the religious books which advocated them, such as the Bible. This angered the Puritans, who believed the Bible to be the word of God, and they accused the rationalist of being atheist. Because they did not believe that God intervened in human affairs, the rationalist thought that it was their responsibility to explore the innerworkings of his creation in order to improve their lives. This was also opposed by the ever antagonizing Puritans, as they believed that the works of God was not for his creation to know.

The current issue of the cloning of human cells is a good example of both puritanism and rationalism in modern thought. Many support this research on the basis that it will help cure diseases by making us able to replace cells or even organs in a human body with cloned ones, improving life expectancy. Others, however, are against it, as it may eventually lead to human cloning, allowing man, in a sense, to play God. Among other reasons some oppose this on the basis that this sort of creation is meant to be used by God only.