"The Wordy Shipmates"

[fiefoe]

The puritan settlers in Massachusetts were a grim lot, and there really wasn't much Sarah Vowell could do to dress Calvinism up. She has insightful comments on the democratization of religion and where it has led us to.

__ For John Winthrop and the men and women like him, this way of life is a stirring challenge, a thrilling project, and sometimes even a joy. Tallness! Get up early! So much to do! Never bored! Reflect! Overthink! Repent!
__ A half-hearted Christian sits in a comfortable chair and peruses his own sins... ; a true Calvinist, on the other hand, is a kind of war correspondent.
__ …Christ’s churches turned into the wilderness of national religion (according to Roger Williams)

The wars with Indians was the least cheerful section of the book. The part about some unfortunately soul got frozen in seawater and rotted from his feet up was memorable too.