Blacklisting

black·list

 /ˈblækˌlɪst/ Show Spelled[blak-list] 

–noun

1.

a list of persons under suspicion, disfavor, censure, etc.: His record as an anarchist put him on the government's blacklist.

2.

a list privately exchanged among employers, containing the names of persons to be barred from employment because of untrustworthiness or for holding opinions considered undesirable.

3.

a list drawn up by a labor union, containing the names of employers to be boycotted for unfair labor practices.

 

    As you can see, blacklisting is a list of people in which someone has decided they are untrustworthy or are under suspicion in any way. Since we have been reading The Crucible the last couple weeks, it is pretty obvious how well this fits into the story line. During the Salem Witch Trials, so many were accused and found guilty just by one person who saw them as unfit. Back then, their black list, was of all the women that these young teenage girls accused of being witches. If your name was on that list, then you were a complete outcast and sinner, people saw you as some kind of threat to the community. So many tried their very hardest to stay off that list, but most of the time there wasn't anything they could do. Take Elizabeth Procter for example, she never did anything against the town, and was very religious, but since Abigail was in love with her husband, she was accused and therefore put on the "black list." 

   I also think that blacklisting is eminent today, there may not be an actual list, but there are always rumors and accusations. Once some rumor gets around, that changes everyones personification of you which then changes how they act around you. Something as little as "blacklisting" can change a person's life.

Crucible Act 1

So, as i have read through act one of the crucible i have really started to understand the ways of the Puritan life. I've also discovered that even though their ways were very over the top, things are still similar in todays generation. Back then so much judging was going on, and thats actually what led to the Salem Witch Trials. People were accused just for being disliked or because of jealousy. In todays world, jealousy and gossip is as big as ever, especially in the schools. People think it will make them feel better and be a better person if they can find faults in others. During the trials, the accusations were made because of hatred and fear. They were so afraid of their real thoughts and feelings that they just blamed it on witch craft. That still happens a lot now, to hide a person s insecurity they make fun and ridicule others in the hopes that it will make them feel better. So even though the Puritan way of life was very strict and proper, the way they acted has a lot of similarites to they way people still act today.

Puitan's Relgious Beliefs

"The Puritans considered the Bible as the true law of God that provided guidelines for church government. They wished to shape the Church of England to meet their ideals. They called for a less priestly church that emphasized preaching. Puritans believed that all Christian churches should be organized through councils called presbyteries or church courts rather than under bishops, as in the Church of England. Some Puritans believed that each congregation was a complete church in itself and should have total control of its own affairs.

The Puritans emphasized Bible reading, prayer, and preaching in worship services. They simplified the ritual of the sacraments. They also wanted more personal and fewer prescribed prayers. The Puritans stressed grace, devotion, prayer, and self-examination to achieve religious virtue."

http://www.laughtergenealogy.com/bin/histprof/misc/puritan.html

So, the main emphasis in class has been that the Puritans live according the the Gospel. In their community, they believed that all laws and punishments should be guided by the Lord's Word. I think that is a good idea, but the fact that you could get 5 hours of Public Humiliation just for not going to church is over the top. I feel like, they had the right idea by using the Bible as a guide, but they took it too far. Back then, if you had a position of authority in the church that instantly meant you were high ranked as an advisor for the community.
I feel like it is pretty harsh to force everyone into the same exact beliefs. Back then if your mind strayed from what their Bible had taught you, it was a very large sin, which actually led to the Salem Witch Trials. The types of sermons that the Puritan Churches had were very blunt about how they felt about sinning and sinners. They would always tell you that you have already made God mad, there is nothing you can do about that, and that it is pure grrace that He hasnt just killed you on the spot and sent you to Hell. I think thats a little harsh.

 
Puritan Church