SPECIAL REPRINT THE VIRGINIA PAGE 1 Calvinism and Colonial Native American Religious Worldviews By Robert J. King tion of religious world- view, and concluding with a synthesis INTRODUCTION rendering of how such interaction pro- The interaction between the origi- duced a split in Puritan religious self- nal Puritan settlers and Native identity. Americans, as recorded in Mourt’s Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at MOURT’S RELATION: Plymouth, demonstrates a complexity of DIVINE PROVIDENCE interactions concerning theological “Good Friend: As we cannot but understandings of God’s Providence account it an extraordinary blessing of and Puritan social relations with Native God in directing our course for these Americans. Such theological under- parts, after we came out of our native standings, as can be demonstrated country, for that we had happiness to through later ecclesiastical records of be possessed of the comforts we receive First Church, Plymouth, can be fully by the benefit of one of the most pleas- understood according to the distinc- ant, most fruitful parts of the world....” tively Calvinist heritage of Puritan (Heath 3) English Reformation history. The So begins Mourt’s Relation, yet the struggle for physical survival of the Dr. William Paquette of the appeal to God’s Providential blessing Mayflower Pilgrims in which more Virginia was to show signs of unraveling from than half of the original Puritan set- directed a research project its stricter Calvinist theological influ- examining relationships between tlers died during the first winter com- the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag ence within the first generation of set- bined with early positive interactions Indians that was later featured in tlers at Plymouth. Such a unified a special issue of the Community with , and finally culminating College Humanities Review. vision shows signs of such later bifurca- with the breakdown of English-Native Reprinted here with special tion between theological and economic American relations during King permission is one of the articles resulting from that workshop for emphases within the opening sentences Philip’s War, paint a portrait of stoic educators, which was funded by of notes “To the reader” within Mourt’s Calvinist acceptance of God’s a grant from the National Relation: Endowment for the Humanities. Providence irrespective of the blessing “Calvinism and Colonial “Courteous Reader, be entreated to or misfortune that befell the Mayflower Native American Religious make a favorable construction of my Worldviews” by Professor Robert Pilgrims and their future English inher- King won the 2012 Excellence in forwardness in publishing these ensu- itors of Plymouth and surrounding Publishing ing discourses. The desire of carrying areas. Award from the Gospel of Christ into those foreign the To understand fully how Calvinist University parts, amongst those people that as yet emphasis on Providence was under- of Phoenix. have had no knowledge nor taste of He is stood by the Mayflower Pilgrims is Associate God, as also to procure unto them- beyond the scope of this primary textu- Faculty of selves and others a quiet and comfort- Philosophy al engagement, but through focusing at the able habitation were, amongst other on select passages from Mourt’s Relation University things, the inducements (unto these as historically contextualized alongside of Phoenix. undertakings of the then hopeful and of earlier Native American religious While ROBERT J. KING supplies now experimentally known good enter- worldviews, a preliminary statement of last, you prise for plantation in New England) to may purchase a copy of this 2011 Calvinist theological identity morphing special issue of the Community set afoot and prosecute the same.” into bifurcated religious and secular College Humanities Review by (H