Roger Williams agreed with the mainstream Massachusetts Puritans that the vast majority of people were damned, and only a few were saved. But who were the saved (the elect)? The majority of Puritans believed those who were wealthy and worked hard and raised families were "visible saints" and thus, eligible for church membership and the right to vote. Williams disagreed. He said no person could be sure of anyone's beliefs but himself. He said that even though he prayed with his wife, he did not know for sure if she was truly saved. Only God did. Roger Williams was the ultimate separatist. And he believed that religion and government (church and state) should be entirely separate. If there was no way to tell if a person was saved, then everyone living in the community had the right to vote.
Roger Williams believed that govenment should not enforce religious laws.
he thought the people with other beliefs should tolerate other religions
Roger Williams left the Massachusetts colony over religious differences. He felt they were intolerant and proceded to found Rhode Island.
puritans
Roger Williams left Europe for the same reason many others did at the time, religious freedom. He was a staunch Puritan and Separatist.
A colony with religious freedom.
Roger Williams.
Rhode Island was the first. They did this in the year 1636 when the founder, Roger Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious views.
Roger Williams left the Massachusetts colony over religious differences. He felt they were intolerant and proceded to found Rhode Island.
The first European settler in Rhode Island was Roger Williams (1636), who had been banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony for his religious views.
Roger Williams
Roger Williams
Roger Williams believed that people should be free to follow their consciences in religious matters.In his view,the church and the government should be completely seperate.
puritans
Roger Williams.
Roger Williams
Roger Williams left Europe for the same reason many others did at the time, religious freedom. He was a staunch Puritan and Separatist.
Roger Williams accomplishment was Roger Williams founded the settlements called providence and set up a government for the settlement based on the consent of its settlers.
religious freedom roger williams