A Rebellion against the Powerful Church and State To be a rebel is to fight the formalities in society as well as the accepted norm. When the Puritans emigrated from England to the New England region of the New World, they were relieved to escape the religious pressures of Catholicism. However, the Puritans themselves pressured their beliefs on others and ostracized those who did not agree with their beliefs, turning them away from their colonies. One man however, became a rebel and stood for what he believed in rather than accepting the pressures of the many Puritans. Roger Williams, a Puritan minister from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, felt that people were allowed freedom of practice and that such a freedom would not bring consequences.
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His legacy and his philosophy is carried out by his written works such as The Bloody Tenant and Letter to the Town of Providence. Williams felt that no man should enforce religion on the newcomers because they traveled on the ships to the New World without such enforcement, but also believed that the newcomers should not be allowed to break the laws on the basis of their religious beliefs (Stokes 1:197--98). The variety of people on board the ships to the New World were free to pray to their God(s) and no uniform religion was enforced on the people. However, this freedom to practice was not an excuse to cause trouble, as laws still exist in this world and for the sake of order, the people must not be free as wild animals. Regardless, he did not feel it would come to such extremes. Williams felt that freedom of practice would bring no harm to the colony as it is enforcement of religion which brings conflict since it links the church and state (Stokes 1:196--97, 198, 199). He feels that God does not want a uniform religion established by the state as this will cause chaos and disruption. He further exemplifies the peace of varied ideas coexisting in a situation with company members splitting up to pursue their own ideas rather than violently disagree with one another. This peace occurs because of a separation, where the business of the company is kept within the company. Williams left …show more content…
The church and the state needed to be kept separate in his eyes as the state had no business with the church. He also felt that people should be free to practice as they please while abiding the laws which keep order. Williams was not afraid of disorder though as with freedom of practice, the disputes and issues would remain with the business of those who practice the religion. It is with enforcement of a uniform religion which brings chaos to society. Williams was right to disagree with the masses and is the first of many rebels on America’s soil. His wisdom has led many to question the necessity of regulation by man in a practice to worship
His legacy and his philosophy is carried out by his written works such as The Bloody Tenant and Letter to the Town of Providence. Williams felt that no man should enforce religion on the newcomers because they traveled on the ships to the New World without such enforcement, but also believed that the newcomers should not be allowed to break the laws on the basis of their religious beliefs (Stokes 1:197--98). The variety of people on board the ships to the New World were free to pray to their God(s) and no uniform religion was enforced on the people. However, this freedom to practice was not an excuse to cause trouble, as laws still exist in this world and for the sake of order, the people must not be free as wild animals. Regardless, he did not feel it would come to such extremes. Williams felt that freedom of practice would bring no harm to the colony as it is enforcement of religion which brings conflict since it links the church and state (Stokes 1:196--97, 198, 199). He feels that God does not want a uniform religion established by the state as this will cause chaos and disruption. He further exemplifies the peace of varied ideas coexisting in a situation with company members splitting up to pursue their own ideas rather than violently disagree with one another. This peace occurs because of a separation, where the business of the company is kept within the company. Williams left …show more content…
The church and the state needed to be kept separate in his eyes as the state had no business with the church. He also felt that people should be free to practice as they please while abiding the laws which keep order. Williams was not afraid of disorder though as with freedom of practice, the disputes and issues would remain with the business of those who practice the religion. It is with enforcement of a uniform religion which brings chaos to society. Williams was right to disagree with the masses and is the first of many rebels on America’s soil. His wisdom has led many to question the necessity of regulation by man in a practice to worship