Protestants constantly fought literature that was considered
heretical. In 1651, Colonist William Pynchon, who founded
Springfield, Massachusetts, published A Deserved Price for
Our Redemption, in which he criticized the views of the
Puritans. Pynchon believed that obedience rather than suffering
and punishment would help to atone for sins. He was declared
a heretic and all copies of his book were burned. In 1656, the
Boston authorities imprisoned several Quaker preachers. The
local newspaper wrote that they "brought with them and
distributed books containing heretical and blasphemous
teachings that contradict the truth of the gospel." The above-
mentioned books, more than a hundred, were burned in Boston's
Market Square.
In 1873, Anthony Comstock, with the Young People's Christian
Association, founded the New York Society for the Fight
Against Vice. For 77 years of its existence, the organization
has burned 15 tons of books, 129 tons of records and almost
4 million paintings. Society fought the novels of David Herbert
Lawrence, Theodore Dreiser, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, and
many other famous writers. Protestants did not stop burning
books even in the 20th century. In 1948, superhero comics were
massacred across America. The Church saw immoral content in
stories about people in tight-fitting tights: she was embarrassed
by the praise of criminals and the undisguised sexuality of barely
dressed heroines. Most often, comics were burned by city priests,
and parents, excited by the hobby of children, helped them.
Books are burning these days too. In 2006, Potter books were
destroyed in Protestant churches across America. The religious
struggle does not stop either. In 2010-2011, representatives of
several Protestant movements burned Korans in Knoxville,
Tennessee, East Lansing, Michigan, Springfield, Tennessee,
Chicago. However, in the modern world, this has caused great
controversy and protests. Representatives of many Christian
associations condemned the pastors' act. Nevertheless, the
religious madness continues.
