Does Puritanism still exist?
Well, it would be difficult to find a group whose twenty-first century practitioners closely resemble the Puritans who went from Old England to New England in the seventeenth century. So, in that regard, no. One of the main characteristics of the Puritans was their opposition to the Church of England. And by now there are so many Protestant groups in America that “not being Anglican” can no longer be a defining characteristic for one particular group. However, I remember hearing that the modern-day Congregational Church (which my mother was raised in) is the true descendant of the New England Puritans. I wouldn’t be surprised, since almost all my early American ancestors on that side of the family were Puritans, and almost all stayed in New England. What specific theological similarities exist between the two, I couldn’t tell you– but I’ll edit this answer if I find anything more substantial linking Puritanism to Congregationalism.
