ROGER ROGER WILLIAMSWILLIAMS

Puritan Minister Puritan Minister 16361636

Religious IntoleranceReligious Intolerance

The Puritans, who were The Puritans, who were victims of intolerance in victims of intolerance in England, were not England, were not tolerant themselves. tolerant themselves. Although they preached Although they preached the Golden Rule—do the Golden Rule—do unto others as you unto others as you would have them do would have them do unto you—most never unto you—most never understood they were understood they were breaking that rule. breaking that rule. Roger Williams did.Roger Williams did.

What do the words What do the words intolerance and intolerance and tolerance mean?tolerance mean?

Puritan DisapprovalPuritan Disapproval

Williams was a Williams was a Puritan minister Puritan minister and a serious and a serious Christian. Like Christian. Like other Puritans, other Puritans, he disapproved he disapproved of Catholic and of Catholic and Quaker ideas. But Quaker ideas. But that’s where the that’s where the “like the others” “like the others” stops.stops.

QUAKERS

Catholic Pope

Respect the Beliefs of Respect the Beliefs of OthersOthers

Williams did not believe in forcing Williams did not believe in forcing anyone to believe as he did. He anyone to believe as he did. He believed that killing and punishing in believed that killing and punishing in the name of Christianity was sinful. the name of Christianity was sinful. He respected the beliefs of others. He respected the beliefs of others. Those were strange ideas in 17Those were strange ideas in 17thth Century Massachusetts.Century Massachusetts.

What to do with Roger What to do with Roger WilliamsWilliams

The Puritans didn’t know The Puritans didn’t know what to do with Roger what to do with Roger Williams. He was a Williams. He was a brilliant minister, and so brilliant minister, and so nice that people had a nice that people had a hard time disliking him, hard time disliking him, but he seemed ungrateful but he seemed ungrateful to them. The Puritans had to them. The Puritans had given him good jobs as a given him good jobs as a teacher and a minister teacher and a minister and he thanked them by and he thanked them by criticizing their ways.criticizing their ways.

You Shouldn’t take what You Shouldn’t take what doesn’t Belong to You!doesn’t Belong to You!

When Roger Williams When Roger Williams started preaching that the started preaching that the land shouldn’t be taken land shouldn’t be taken from the Indians and that from the Indians and that the king had no right to the king had no right to give away land in America give away land in America that didn’t belong to him, that didn’t belong to him, that was too much!that was too much!

The officers of the The officers of the Massachusetts Bay Massachusetts Bay Company sent armed men Company sent armed men to put Williams on a boat to put Williams on a boat to England.to England.

Roger Williams Runs for Roger Williams Runs for his Lifehis Life

Williams didn’t want to go Williams didn’t want to go back so he fled from back so he fled from Massachusetts and started a Massachusetts and started a colony of his own called colony of his own called Providence in what is now Providence in what is now Rhode Island.Rhode Island.

Williams welcomed everyone Williams welcomed everyone who wished to come to who wished to come to Rhode Island, including Rhode Island, including Quakers and Catholics. He Quakers and Catholics. He disagreed with those disagreed with those religions, but he never let religions, but he never let that stop him from liking the that stop him from liking the people who practiced them.people who practiced them.

Religious ToleranceReligious Tolerance In 1763, thanks to Roger In 1763, thanks to Roger

Williams beliefs of Williams beliefs of religious tolerance, religious tolerance, Rhode Island became the Rhode Island became the home of the first home of the first permanent Jewish house permanent Jewish house of worship in America, of worship in America, the Touro Synagogue.the Touro Synagogue.

The Jewish people were The Jewish people were often persecuted in often persecuted in America. Roger Williams America. Roger Williams gave them a place where gave them a place where they were welcomed.they were welcomed.

You Cannot Force others to You Cannot Force others to Believe!Believe! The Puritans forced some Indians to become The Puritans forced some Indians to become

Christians. Roger Williams wrote a letter to the Christians. Roger Williams wrote a letter to the Massachusetts governor which read, “Are not the Massachusetts governor which read, “Are not the English of this land generally a persecuted English of this land generally a persecuted people from their native land? How could those people from their native land? How could those who had been persecuted persecute others?who had been persecuted persecute others?

He said that the Indians should not be forced He said that the Indians should not be forced from their religions.”from their religions.”

What do you Believe?What do you Believe? Roger Williams didn’t think anyone should be Roger Williams didn’t think anyone should be

forced to follow a religion. He believed that you forced to follow a religion. He believed that you can make people do things, but you can’t make can make people do things, but you can’t make them believe what they don’t believe.them believe what they don’t believe.

Most Puritans did not agree with Roger Williams. Most Puritans did not agree with Roger Williams. What do you think?What do you think?