Freedom and Religion: Roger Williams Life and Thought

1 credits · Divinity School

The historic importance of Roger Williams cannot be limited to that of a sectarian firebrand who challenged Puritan authorities, befriended Indian neighbors, founded the colony of Rhode Island, and established the First Baptist Church in America. Roger Williams may well deserve the title 'America's Theologian' because he was the trailblazer for the liberty of conscience, the freedom of religion, and the separation of church and state which became established as a distinctively American ideal in history, culture, and law. This course will examine the life and thought of Roger Williams through a careful reading of his writings with attention to both their historical context and contemporary relevance