Roger Williams: Church & State

A Different Voice

Roger Williams was an ordained minister of the Anglican Church (Church of England). He arrived in 1631 & soon preached “new & dangerous” ideas

Puritans & the government

Williams became a Puritan during his college studies. Puritans wanted to “purify’ the Anglican Church of its Catholic practices. He viewed the church as corrupt & false. He arrived at a Separatist view. The correct course as a Separatist was to complete separate the corrupt Anglican church

New & Dangerous Ideas: Part 1

Church & state-Williams believed that the government had no authority over the “1st table” of the 10 commandments—idolatry, Sabbath-breaking, false worship & blasphemy. Individuals should be free to follow their own conscience in religious matters

Dangerous Ideas: Part 2

-Colonial Charters: Does the king of England have right to grant land that belongs to the Narrsgansett people?

-Should the colonies purchase this land?
-Williams put these ideas in a tract that placed him at odds w/ the government of the Puritan Colony

Williams on Trial

-The 1st conflict was smoothed over & the tract may have been destroyed. no copy has survived

-A later conflict over land resulted in a 2nd conflict. Williams was convicted & banished

Williams Leaves Puritan Colony

Williams left in winter & went over 50 miles on foot. He was sheltered by the Wampanoag tribe until spring

A New Colony is Formed

Williams & some of his followers from Salem were given land from Native sachems (chiefs) & formed a new colony. They believed it was done by the providence of God & named it “Providence.” This became the colony of Rhode Island

Rhode Island & Religious Freedom

Roger Williams wanted his colony o be open to citizens of any religion. He wanted full separation of church and& state. These vies would later be part of the first amendment to the constitution

Williams’ Legacy

Famous historian Edmund Morgan wrote “We may praise him…for his defense of religious liberty & the separation of church and& state. He deserved the tribute… but it falls short of the man. His greatness was simpler. He dared to think.”

Importance to Seventh-day Adventists

Separation of Church & State is vital to the SDA denomination. Our church is a small minority in the U.S. SDAs believe that Bible prophecy teaches that forced worship will be the law of the land just before Christ returns