William Bradford Religious Journey Essay

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Pages: 4

The Bible Prevailing the Dissenters Religious Journey Who played a more important role in the in the historical survival of the brave Pilgrims, God or William Bradford? William Bradford of Plymouth Plantation shares his religious expedition, in a journal, with other dissenters from the Dutch Republic, on the famous Mayflower, to Massachusetts. Bradford is a journalist, historian, and leader. Bradford unfolds the story in his way, continuously contrasting biblical text with real life circumstances. They set out on a religious e to escape from religious persecution from the Church of England. The committed pilgrims based their lives on the bible and wanted God to guide them through their spiritual journey. William Bradford served his one and …show more content…
Bradford describes his arriving and viewing of Cape Cod as “a hideous and desolate wilderness (Bradford 132).” The biblical allusion he is basing his bias of the wilderness was in Deuteronomy and Acts. In Acts 28, barbarous people helped the shipwrecked Christians. William Bradford references this moment to when the pilgrims just arrived, and had no people to greet them from their long religious, but desolate journey. For example, in Deuteronomy, one of the most historical, biblical events took place. The Hebrews roamed for 40 years, in the wilderness, with the thought of being lost without God. However, the Lord opens Moses eyes and takes a glimpse at the Promise Land, but did not cross over to the new land. This is fairly similar to the dissenter’s situation upon arriving. Furthermore, the dissenters could see the free or “promised” land, however they could not follow through, at first, to see the country that would soon fill their religious hopes and dreams. Referring back to my first question, who had the role in the survival of the dissenters? According to William Bradford and his extreme deep trust in God, would agree that the pilgrim’s survival is due solely to God, with the many times he provided them with safety or resources. William Bradford uses these biblical allusions to incorporate their beliefs. Possibly, to steer others away from the Church of England and focus entirely on their