The American Revolution is inconceivable in the absence of the context of ideas which have constituted Christianity. There are three main events in history that affected it; the reformation, the two revolutions in England, and the flight to America.
The first event is the Protestant Reformation. It began in 1517 because Martin Luther, a Catholic priest in Germany, challenged his church’s ideas and practices. Two of Luther’s main beliefs were “liberty of conscience” and “the creator/redeemer distinction.” Liberty of conscience means that everyone has the right to believe what they choose and neither the Government nor the church should interfere with it, unless it is physically harmful to others. The creator/redeemer distinction means that …show more content…
The first revolution was the English Civil War, which was from 1641 to 1649. It was between those loyal to the king and the puritans, who felt they had been mistreated by the king. During the war, a Scottish Presbyterian, named Samuel Rutherford, wrote a book entitled, “Lex Rex.” In this book, he reiterates many of Calvin’s ideas, including the social contract theory. His ideas were from both catholic and protestant sources. The war ended in 1649, with the Puritans victorious and King Charles I put on trial. However, in 1660, the people wanted a King again, and Charles II was crowned King of England. One of Charles’s projects was settling a colony in America. It was named Charlestown, after him. Charles turned to his advisor, Lord Shaftsbury, who in turn asked John Locke to draft a constitution for the new colony. John Lock’s father was an acquaintance of Samuel Rutherford, so Lock’s ideas were greatly influenced by Rutherford’s. He firmly held to liberty of conscience, the creator/redeemer distinction and all essential doctrines to the Christian faith. The bible he held as infallibly true, all men are corrupt by nature, and salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. The second revolution was the glorious revolution, which took place in 1688. Charles II died in 1685 and his brother James II, who believed in the Divine Right of Kings, ascended to the throne. James II was forced from the throne without violence,
The first event is the Protestant Reformation. It began in 1517 because Martin Luther, a Catholic priest in Germany, challenged his church’s ideas and practices. Two of Luther’s main beliefs were “liberty of conscience” and “the creator/redeemer distinction.” Liberty of conscience means that everyone has the right to believe what they choose and neither the Government nor the church should interfere with it, unless it is physically harmful to others. The creator/redeemer distinction means that …show more content…
The first revolution was the English Civil War, which was from 1641 to 1649. It was between those loyal to the king and the puritans, who felt they had been mistreated by the king. During the war, a Scottish Presbyterian, named Samuel Rutherford, wrote a book entitled, “Lex Rex.” In this book, he reiterates many of Calvin’s ideas, including the social contract theory. His ideas were from both catholic and protestant sources. The war ended in 1649, with the Puritans victorious and King Charles I put on trial. However, in 1660, the people wanted a King again, and Charles II was crowned King of England. One of Charles’s projects was settling a colony in America. It was named Charlestown, after him. Charles turned to his advisor, Lord Shaftsbury, who in turn asked John Locke to draft a constitution for the new colony. John Lock’s father was an acquaintance of Samuel Rutherford, so Lock’s ideas were greatly influenced by Rutherford’s. He firmly held to liberty of conscience, the creator/redeemer distinction and all essential doctrines to the Christian faith. The bible he held as infallibly true, all men are corrupt by nature, and salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. The second revolution was the glorious revolution, which took place in 1688. Charles II died in 1685 and his brother James II, who believed in the Divine Right of Kings, ascended to the throne. James II was forced from the throne without violence,