No one took the Reformed faith more seriously than the Puritans, and when they came to America during the early 1600s, they were determined to colonize America’s First People in a Christian manner. They declared the evangelism of the Natives to be the primary purpose of their colony. They established the only major successful missionary effort in all the English colonies. They were determined to treat Natives fairly and were confident that the civilization they brought would be enormously beneficial to them. However, what actually happened was far more complicated and tragic. When Natives resisted and war broke out, the Puritans were equally confident that God was with their armies as they devastated Native communities. The ultimate result was perhaps the bloodiest war per capita in American history. This course explores what Reformed colonialism looked like in New England, focusing on the Puritans’ theological and moral vision, their successful missionary efforts among Native Americans, and their brutal attempts to conquer the Natives by force.

Recommended reading: The Wars of the Lord: The Puritan Conquest of America's First People (Oxford University Press, 2025). The book is available at 50% off ($17.50) when purchased through CALL at our office or in person at the class sessions. Students can also purchase the book if registering online as an additional item.

Subject: religion, history

Matthew J. Tuininga is Professor of Christian Ethics and the History of Christianity at Calvin Theological Seminary. He is the author of The Wars of the Lord: The Puritan Conquest of America's First People (Oxford University Press, 2025). He lives in Wyoming, Michigan, with his wife Elizabeth and their three children.