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America was first colonized by Puritans. Most of our earliest immigrants, and many since, have come here in order to practice their religious beliefs as they please. Our culture has always been, and will most likely always be, profoundly influenced by religion.

You know the puritan ethic that started out four centuries ago in this country, needless to say - at least for the moment - a thing of the past - from what I can tell.

But we're still in somewhat a Puritanical society in a lot of ways.

The Puritan has passed; the Catholic remains.

I was raised not so much in a puritan environment, but for the most part, a pretty healthy one.

I had a strong, really good upbringing, not puritanical.

I think we're very uptight in America. You have to remember that we're descended from Puritans. Whether or not the country is now composed of immigrants, our culture as American really begins with the landing of the Pilgrims and a puritanical view of things.

Puritanism. The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.

Puritanism was a youthful, vigorous movement.