How Did Religion Influence The Rule In The Early English Colonies

The earliest English colonies of the 17th century held strong religious beliefs. The different religions the colonists had, influenced and determined certain rule within a colony. Some colonies believed that religious and state rule should be combined while other colonies believed it needed to be separated. Many early english colonists believed it important to abide by religious rule and cast others out that decided to rebel against the religious norm. All of these things contributed to the way religion affected the rule in the early english colonies of the 17th century. John Winthrop, a powerful Puritan leader of the Massachusetts colony believed that they were to create a model society, a theocracy- ruled by God and that anyone to disobey

Williams rejected the notion that Puritans were chosen by god and believe that the colony should have an over all more democratic form of government with church and state separated. Roger Williams writes the Bloody Tenant; “Fifthly. All civil states, with their officers of justice, in their respective constitutions and administrations, are proved essentially civil, and therefore not judges, governors, or defenders of the spiritual, or Christian, state and worship.” (Bloody Tenant) Roger Williams believed in separation of church and state. These two things could not last long if simultaneously put together. Williams insisted that religion could and always would be questioned (after all that was the point). It was nonsensical to combine laws of the state and government officials with that of the church. It offered a vulnerability to both institutions in the Massachusetts Colony. “Eighthly. God requireth not an uniformity of religion to be enacted and enforced in any civil state; which enforced uniformity, sooner or later, is the greatest occasion of civil war, ravishing of conscience, persecution of Christ Jesus in his servants, and of the hypocrisy and destruction of millions of souls.” (Bloody Tenant) Williams knew that religious tolerance was necessary for the development of the colony. After trying to get the colonists

Here, Protestants and Cathliocs were able to live in peace even though there would sometimes be conflict. In order to solve the conflict a religious toleration act- The Act Concerning Religion (1649) makes a huge statement that Maryland would not be a place for hate but yet a place for understanding and love for ones neighbor regardless of differing religious views. “And whereas the inforceing of the conscience in matters of Religion hath frequently fallen out to be of dangerous Consequence in those commonwealthes where it hath been practised, And for the more quiett and peaceable governement of this Province, and the better to preserve mutuall Love and amity amongst the Inhabitants thereof, Be it Therefore also by the Lord Proprietary with the advise and consent of this Assembly Ordeyned and enacted (except as in this present Act is before Declared and sett forth) that noe person or persons whatsoever within this Province, or the Islands, Ports, Harbors, Creekes, or havens thereunto belonging professing to beleive in Jesus Christ, shall from henceforth bee any waies troubled, Molested or discountenanced for or in respect of his or her religion nor in the free exercise thereof within this Province or the Islands thereunto belonging nor any way compelled to the beleife or exercise of any other Religion against his or her consent, soe as they be not