Religion has had a powerful influence on humankind for thousands of years. Many people believe in a Supreme Being, God, and the teachings of his Divine Son, Jesus Christ. Other people believe that nature is sacred and therefore they give reverence to the land. One may not expect to find many similarities between both of these views, although there are actually many. Religion was important to the founding of the Americas for both the Native Americans and the Puritans.

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, many people immigrated from urban Europe to the newly found rural Americas. Some ventured from their homeland in search of gold and great fortune. Others voyaged for religious freedom due to the lack of toleration in their homeland. During this time, Roman Catholics were being brutally persecuted, especially in England. There were also people who did not like the new idea of combining church and state. These people began their own religions based on the Bible and the original traditions and teachings of the church. They were called Separatists. One group of Separatists, the Puritans

, were extremely holy and pious. Their devotion is shown throughout literature from that period. In fact, many of them believed that each piece of writing should be affiliated with God. The Puritans were known for their simple and "to-the-point" style of writing. This style can be seen in an excerpt from Of Plymouth Plantation, by William Br!

buckskins and then dancing around this compilation until the wind breathed life into two human beings: "When the Mirage People had finished their walk the upper buckskin was lifted: the ears of corn had disappeared, a man and a woman lay there in their stead...it was the wind that gave them life". Even though differences among many of their beliefs existed, almost all of the Native Americans' religions were based on nature and their reverence to the land for providing them with food and habitation.

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Throughout history, the Native Americans passed down stories that explained natural phenomena, such as the Creation of man. Today, these pieces are referred to as myths. One famous work, "The Walam Olum" describes the Creation of man and the universe according to the Delaware Native American Tribe. Incredibly, it is very similar to those beliefs of the Christians. This short piece,

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Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)