RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Did you know that 350 years ago King Charles II of England signed the charter establishing the Colony of Rhode Island? Rhode Island had actually been established by the anti-conformist Minister Roger Williams who was in conflict with the strict Puritanism of Massachusetts.

Actually the Rhode Island Colony had been originally chartered under the Stuart King Charles I who lost his head. During the “Commonwealth of England” period all charters granted under the Stuart kings were revoked. That is why the official charter creating Rhode Island was granted by Charles the Second.

What makes this document unique is that it is the first known “constitutional” guarantee in the American Colonies of religious freedom.  Some of its phrases; “to secure in them in the free exercise and enjoyment of all their civil and religious rights.”

It continues;" Some of the people and inhabitants of the same colony cannot in their private opinion, conform to the public exercise of religion, according to the liturgy, forms, and ceremonies of the Church of England, or take or subscribe the oaths and articles  made and established in that behalf” ---“no person within the said colony , at any time hereafter shall be in any wise molested, punished, disquieted, or called in question, for any differences in the matter of religion.’ and” all and every person and persons may, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, freely and  fully have his and their own judgments and consciences in matters of religious concernments”

These words in this document influenced the authors of the Constitution and set the principle of separation of State and Church.

Roger Williams  was a devote Christian who was educated at Cambridge. Although he had taken holy orders in the Church of England, he had become a Puritan at Cambridge. In 1630 he and his wife sailed for the Massachusetts which was a Puritan Colony. He found its laws which allowed for the death penalty for anyone not a Puritan unacceptable and after becoming a Baptist was exiled from the colony; settling in what was to become Rhode Island.

 He believed that any effort by the state to dictate religion or promote any particular religious idea or practice was forced worship. He colorfully declared that, "Forced worship stinks in the nostrils of God."

Williams even acknowledge that one  had the right to be an atheist.

We should be grateful that we live in a nation where we supposedly have freedom in civil rights and make sure that our laws are enforced to protect them irrespective of religion, ethnicity or race.

Above all we must avoid mob or vigilante reaction to apparent miscarriages of justice.