I think there is a danger in reading our own biases and prejudices back into the Puritans, and supposing that they would do whatever we consider the most conservative or judicious thing.

It is a more subtle form of the "What Would Jesus Do?" movement, where rather than looking at what Jesus actually did, young Christians hypothesise about the best thing to do in a situation, then say "that is what Jesus would do" then deduce that, therefore, that is what they should do. They would be better off skipping the middle step, thinking of the best thing to do and then doing it.

Would a Puritan listen to jazz? If they lived in the 1920s, when jazz was often associated with immorality, likely not. If they lived today, when such associations have diminished, perhaps they would.

__________________
T W Hopper
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church
Currently between churches since PRC closed here - attending Crossroads Christian Church.
Canberra, Australia.