...Liberty University The Contribution of Baptists in the Struggle for Religious Freedom A Research Paper Submitted to Dr. Jason J. Graffagnino in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Course CHHI 665 Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary by Brian M. Hyde Lynchburg, Virginia Saturday, December 6, 2014 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 IN THE BEGINNING 2 THE STRUGGLE IN ENGLAND 4 THE STRUGGLE MOVES TO THE NEW WORLD 7 CONCLUSION 11 WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY 14 INTRODUCTION In this nation, and in much of the Western world, the right of each individual to worship as his or her own conscience dictates, or not to worship at all, is one that is all too often taken for granted. Few consider the tremendous lengths gone to and the enormous price paid by so many to obtain and preserve this right. In the United States when one does reflect on this matter his or her thoughts rightfully focus on the many men and women of the armed forces who fought to gain and keep the freedoms the citizens of this nation enjoy. What is often overlooked is the contributions of Baptists in the centuries long struggle to obtain religious freedom. Their struggle began not in the American colonies but rather in England a century earlier. “The freedom of religious belief and behavior which modern Baptists and others take for granted was forged in the crucible of persecution in seventeenth-century England” McBeth adds that, “No group can claim more credit for the Act of Toleration, passed by Parliament...
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...In the 1600s, a theologian, Roger Williams, developed the phrase ‘separation between church and state’ “to signify the protection that the church needed in order to prevent misuse and corruption by political leaders” (Epps). The debate between church and state in America has gone on since before Europeans came to North America. Today’s society has forced the church to stay away from government, but many people want the church to still be part of the government as it was in America’s beginning. While church and state have two completely different beliefs and should not be completely unified, they do need to work together to unite America as they have in the past. Religion has always been a part of America’s history, from before its independence, with the acceptance of religion, to today’s society which pushes religion away....
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...how did we as a nation arrived to a secular viewpoint on liberty considering our Puritan foundation and influenced that helped to shape our country from the early beginnings. For a better perspective, we must look back at the Puritan period for the seed of contemporary liberty. While Winthrop was a staunch follower of the Puritan lifestyle and a prominent figure within its structure, however on the other hand, there was also side of him that was partial to the precursor thought of contemporary liberty. For example, he was partial to Roger Williams aiding him safe passage to exile. As a matter of fact, I consider Roger Williams one of the first outspoken activists and proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Furthermore, he was an early abolitionist in North America against slavery and developed mutually agreeable relationships with Native Americans. In addition, some of Williams’s ideas may have also influenced the religion clause and the first amendment of the United States Constitution . Arguably, the catalyst for ‘modern liberty’ has always been part of the American psyche....
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...the debt to be paid, King Charles gave them a piece of land that would become Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was discovered in 1682, by William Penn. Penn is the reason that the colony survived. One of Penn’s greatest contributions towards the colony was the way he decided to run the government. In 1682, he promised the people that would settle in Pennsylvania, things such as due process of law, no taxation without representation, freedom from prosecution, etc. This plan of Penn’s was called the “Holy Experiment.” To get word out for the newly, framed government, Penn ‘campaigned’ in places such as England, Ireland, and Germany. As word spread, people got excited about William’s plans. Settlers that came from all around fled into Philadelphia. The majority of the settlers were English Quakers. On February 5, 1631, Roger William, arrived in Boston. Williams believed in defending the right for people to freely practice religion. In fact, that is why most colonists left England in the first place. William was an ordained minister at the Church of England, when he discovered Puritanism. Soon after arriving to Massachusetts Bay Colony, he converted to Puritanism. At first, William’s whole plan for going to the Americas was just to make changes in the Church of England, but soon after his arrival he wanted total separation and free practice of religion for...
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...became governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which he called a Puritan ‘city on a hill’. This became a model for other New England colonies to follow. Puritan culture was deeply focused on social connection, particularly religion, which they placed at the forefront of their...
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.....6 Rhode Island, Plymouth, and Pennsylvania Colonies......................................................7-8 The South Colonies and Their Struggle for “Religious Liberty” 9-11 Conclusion 12 Bibliography.............................................................................................................................13-15 Introduction “Religious Liberty” is a good and perfect gift from above. Contrary to populace belief “the separation of church and state,” did not originate with the ACLU but for the most part, it originated with the first British Baptists that arrived in Colonial America they were defenders of true “religious liberty.” Moreover, the distinction between religious liberty and tolerance of religion is significant. “Religious liberty” is a right of every men, however, tolerance is a concession coupled with an understand that “that the state still controls religion.” This paper will examine the contribution of British Baptists in their pursuit for religious liberty. It will first give a brief view of the origin and history of the American Baptists followed by their endurance in the struggle for the settlement of “religious liberty.” It will present the...
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...respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. At one time Americans weren’t a strong believer of freedom of religion. Pilgrims came to the Mayflower more than half a century, the French Protestants known as Huguenots, in Fort Caroline where they settled their colony near Jacksonville, Florida. Spanish people occupied much of Florida who were Catholic’s which murdered the Huguenots at Fort Caroline. Written sighs by the Spanish commander to the king as for why the settlers were hung stated “Scattering the odious Lutheran doctrine in these provinces”. A puritan dissident, Roger Williams in 1963 who was forbidden...
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...Separation from Britain was a brilliant alternative route by the Second Continental Congress and their supporters the patriots in not being submissive to Britain tyrannical reigning. However, there are many online article, books, or websites that support the idea of America remaining with the British for commercial and military purposes. But the delegates in the Second Continental Congress, for example, John Dickson, George read, and many other colony representatives gained an opening in seceding from the British Crown. Since the American Revolution War already began before the Second Continental Congress met, delegates wanted to raise a stronger army and weapon to counter the Crown forces. Additionally, an English American named Thomas Paine...
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...species of religious persecution.” - George Washington, letter to the United Baptist Chamber of Virginia (1789) “Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, then that of blindfolded fear.” - Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr (1787) "In regard to religion, mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid minds in all ages have ever practiced, and both by precept and example inculcated on mankind.” - Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists (1771) “Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law. Take away the law-establishment, and every religion re-assumes its original benignity.” - Thomas Paine, The Rights of Man (1791) “Congress has no power to make any religious establishments.” - Roger Sherman, Congress (1789) "The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason." - Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack (1758) "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people build a wall of separation between Church & State." - Thomas Jefferson, letter to the Danbury Baptists (1802) "To argue with a man who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead." - Thomas Paine, The American Crisis No. V (1776) Note: You can read Paine's whole pamphlet, where he expresses his atheistic beliefs, here. ...
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...Puritanism3. Although, these pilgrims established 13 original colonies in North America, the settlements of Virginia and Massachusetts show some striking similarities and differences. On one hand, religion as the major motivation, and on the other hand a financial venture sponsored by the queen. Massachusetts was given its name from a man named John Smith, an English explorer and was named after the native Massachusetts tribe that resided in the area. Other native tribes in the area were the Nauset, a fishing tribe located on Cape Cod; the Wampanoag in the southeast; the Massachusetts in the northeast; the Nipmuc, centrally; and the Pocumtuc, westward. Without their knowledge, Permanent English settlement would soon drastically impact the lives of the native peoples2. In 1630, Massachusetts Bay Colony was developed and occupied about 1,000 citizens. John Winthrop, the chief figure of the New England Puritans, gave a sermon called “A Model of Christian Charity,” suggesting ideas that the people should find a sense of community with God and one and other, and divinely build a city on a hill as their next course of action. Many people saw Winthrop as a father figure in New England as well as a social reformist and visionary, as he was elected 12 times to be governor3. Church and religion were a major part of the settlers’ everyday lives. Predestination and morality are what was actively preached. They believed if...
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...English colonists traveled to New England to gain religious freedom for many reasons. The colonists wanted to live in a place where they could be free to believe in their faiths. Even though the colonials wanted to escape religious persecution, they ran into many religious conflicts in New England. In spite of the difficulty, settlers cultivated a new society with advanced education. Many folks did not want to be forced into a religion. Therefore a group of Protestants called Puritans sought to reform and purify the Anglican Church. However, the Pilgrims wanted to separate from the church entirely. This conflict persuaded Pilgrims and Puritans to leave England in order to evade persecution. The Puritans soon established the...
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...the crown. Roger Williams: Roger Williams was a Separatist minister that founded Rhode Island. He arrived in Massachusetts in1631. The government felt threatened by his opinions: that the settlers had no right on the land unless bought from the Indians and that the government should be kept separate from religion. This led to him being banished from Massachusetts and moving to Providence. There, everyone was given the freedom to pursue any religion and started separation of church and state. Anne Hutchinson: Anne Hutchinson was a Boston resident that was banned from there to Rhode Island for having religious discussions in her home. She was later killed by Indians, which was, to the Puritans, thought to be God working in the world. Sir George Calvert: Sire George Calvert was a major Catholic figure in Charles I court who wanted to found a colony in America. Charles I then gave Calvert the area around Chesapeake Bay. He named it Maryland. His son brought many provisions to Maryland and started a settlement there that did not persecute Protestants. However, fear that Catholics may become victims of persecution, the freedom of worship was passed. Lord Baltimore: Lord Baltimore was the son of Calvert that organized an expedition to Chesapeake Bay, taking many provisions with him. In 1649 he had the Toleration Act passed in Maryland. Toleration Act: The Toleration Act was passed by the Maryland legislature. It allowed for freedom of worship, but was repealed in 1654. William Penn: William...
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...Journalist Alistair Cooke wrote, “People, when they first come to America, whether as travelers or settlers, become aware of a new and agreeable feeling: that the whole country is their oyster.” This proved to be true with the Puritans and their arrival in the new world. They traveled to the New World to escape religious persecution from the Church of England. They were pushed out for being too extreme. The new land provided so many opportunities yet to be discovered. The new life seemed so promising. With the new opportunities came potential for disaster as well. The Puritans found out quickly, settling in New England was not easy. They had to work hard to keep the colony running. Changes would need to be made if the New England colony wanted to stay alive. In coming to the New World, Puritans found the experience they expected, but not as easily as they anticipated. In all, the tendency of English colonists to form like-minded colonies was crucial to the success of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. To the Puritans, the idea of the “City on a Hill” was perfection. A city where everyone wanted to follow the exact word of the bible. Everyone would live each day to be saved by the almighty God. They wanted their city to be the as if it was the Holy City of God. They quickly found this idea to be difficult. John Winthrop writes home to his wife, “It is now bed tyme, but I must lye alone, therefore I make less haste.”(p. 11). Winthrop continues to write home to his wife telling her...
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...The English colonies formed during the mid 17th century varied vastly from one another. From values, practices, or societal structure each had their own core character. However, religion can be seen as a common theme in their formation and viewed as the root of their individuality and personal beliefs. Religion played an extremely strong role in the establishment of the English colonies as it fueled motives for their formation in America and contributed heavily to how the colonies were structured and governed. Many colonies formed in colonial America, were established as refuge from religious persecution. In New England, Massachusetts Bay colony was created as a place for Puritans to escape religious persecution, as they were unable to worship publicly and forced to pay taxes to the Church of England. They established Massachusetts Bay based on Governor John Winthrop’s essay “A Model Christian Society” which discussed how the colony should be viewed as “a city upon a hill.” The community of Massachusetts would be seen as the quintessential Christian society that stressed godliness and unity over individualism....
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...Southern colonies lived by Anglican faith. Anglican is life lived strictly by the Holy Scriptures. Religion played little to no role in their politics and economy. The Southern colonies were all about money, whereas New England was more about religion. New England was started for religious freedom as a way of escape from harsh treatment of the local government. In 1620 the Mayflower arrived on the Massachusetts coast. Roger Williams a minister in Salem, MA. was opposed to forced church attendance. He founded Rhode Island for religious freedom and separation of church and states. Anne Hutchinson believed differently as well. She maintained that a person could worship God without a church, minister, or bible. Anne Hutchinson was forced to leave Massachusetts and she fled to Rhode...
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