Differences Between Eliot And Roger Williams

In the year 1631, two well known ministers who both have books written about them yet never met each other came to the new world. The first man, John Eliot, was a Puritan pastor who came to the new world to build a city upon a hill. The other man, Roger Williams, came to the new world because there was a new colony waiting to receive a minister and he saw opportunity. John Eliot and Roger Williams both had views and performed civic cuties. A civic duty is a duty or obligation one has to his or her society or community. John Eliot and Roger Williams might be similar in some ways, but their deeds and views on civic duty towards the Indians are completely different.
While John Eliot thinks he should convert the Indians to Christianity, Roger Williams …show more content…
John Eliot almost forced the Indians to convert to Christianity by telling them that it was a better religion and how horrible it would be for them if they didn't convert. On page 48 in The Founder, Eliot tells the Indians about the terrors of hell and how they would go to hell if they didn’t convert to the Christian Religion. John Eliot also taught the Indians how to pray in their own language by creating a bible and a catechism written in the Indians language, Algonquin. On page 59 in The Founder, it says: “But somehow he found the time, the energy, and the courage, cutting his teeth the following year by producing - in Algonquin - a catechism. The Founder (59)” That quote is important because it shows how hard he works for the Indians to convert and how much he really wants them too. Roger Williams on the other hand, stood up for the Indians rights. For example, “He also came to the defense of Native Americans who had not surrendered their lands. Roger Williams (21)” Therefore he wouldn’t let anyone take advantage of the Indians as he believed they had equal rights. Along with standing up for the Indians, Roger Williams also sacrificed a lot for the English. When the Indians were attacking the English, they were burning down house until Roger Williams made a sacrifice to help save the rest of the English. “Williams had expended himself and his property on behalf of the English. Roger Williams (45)” After this large sacrifice, the English decided it was only right if they temporarily suspend his banishment.
In conclusion, both John Eliot and Roger Eliot’s deeds and views are quite different. In fact, it is almost like they are doing the opposite by Eliot making them convert and Williams sticking up for them. Although, they both have different views and deeds, they both were great people, as John Eliot went on to create