Religious Freedom And Economic Gain Essay

Emmmmmmma Kirchner

Compare and contrast the motivating factors of religious freedom and economic gain in establishing successful colonies.

Intro:
Establishing a successful colony requires many different factors, two of which are religious freedom and economic gain. These are very important factors in that they both provide platforms for success, and are able to attract people and business to a new colony. For a group of people to leave their home country, and establish a new life elsewhere, both of these factors are necessary. There are similarities and differences in how religious freedom and economic gain influence success, and lead to prosperity.

Summary of relig freedom:
For aspiring religious colonists nothing was more important than the freedom to believe and pray to the God of their choice. Persecution by one's government led to the formation of separate colonies in which the persecuted religion could thrive and be widely accepted. An example of this escape from prosecution is evident in the Pilgrims journey to what we now call America. Disputes over the Church of England’s teachings and rituals led a group calling
themselves the Pilgrims to form a new church and worship in the way they thought best. While the new colony in America was not entirely accepting of different religions, the fact that it was less strict and severe than England led to the arrival of more and more people. Religious freedom certainly plays a very large role in the formation and success of many colonies, and while it may not lead to immense prosperity or wealthy, it can attract a great many people who collectively build economic power.
Summary of economic gains:
Groups of people forming a new colony typically do not aspire to be poor or unsuccessful, instead they work diligently and in a smart manner so as to make gains economically, and have the financial security that allows them to thrive. The attraction of religious freedom is strong enough that colonies promising such freedom have a steady influx of people and business. The combination of hard working people and a newly discovered land most likely filled with resources of some kind naturally leads to economic gains. And while these economic gains come naturally, it is the intentional sustenance of these gains that leads to a strong and powerful colony, able to survive without a parent country. Again, the Pilgrims colony in America provides a relevant example of this idea. The success of the people living in the new colony, and its eventual separation from England, depended on the natural resources so readily available to them.

Comparison of the two: Successful colonies depend in part on two key factors: religious freedom and economic gain.
The similarities of these two factors allow for more efficient success and prosperity of a new colony. To generate success, religious freedom and economic gain rely on each other for support and work in a tandem fashion. Both factors are attractive to people attempting to colonize, and both provide reasons to leave one country for another. When people have faith in a colony, and are willing to give up everything to follow that faith, successful colonies arise. This faith can be either in religious freedom or economic gains, both are viable and attractive ideas. Religious freedom and economic gain are also ideas that may not be feasible in one's home country, which can provide an even greater incentive to join a colony promising such freedom or
gains.
Contrasting the two:
Each of the two factors mentioned above can also lead to success in their own ways. Religious freedom does not promise financial gains or riches, but for someone who has committed their entire belief and life to a certain religion, the ability to practice that religion is necessary and provides a sense of spirit and energy which in turn leads to a colony’s success. In a sense, success relies on two sides of a coin. One side, religion, is highly necessary because it attracts people and provides them with a reason to live and work in a new colony, where life might be difficult and not enjoyable at times. The flipside of the coin is economic gains, which is also highly important. Without money or business opportunities a colony will flounder and fail. Economic gains rely on hard work and the existence of some type of natural resource or potential for the creation of an in-demand product. Unlike religion, economic gains are straightforward and a product of resources and business. Religion in turn differs in that it provides a pull and attraction to a colony, which leads to success.

conclusion: