Comments on: Religious Freedom? This Baptist Says, "You're Welcome!" http://pursiful.com/2007/10/religious-freedom-this-baptist-says-youre-welcome/ Darrell Pursiful's blog Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:54:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael Westmoreland-White http://pursiful.com/2007/10/religious-freedom-this-baptist-says-youre-welcome/comment-page-1/#comment-767 Michael Westmoreland-White Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:21:50 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=517#comment-767 The story of Baptist (and Anabaptist) struggle for religious liberty is told most thoroughly in William R. Estep's, <i>Revolution within the Revolution</i>. I have tried for some time to show that, unlike liberal and moderate Baptist recitations (including Truett's speech here), it did not stand on its own--but was part of a larger Baptist struggle for human rights--of which religious liberty and church state separation was only a part. (For instance, the first charge that the Mass. Puritans registered against Roger Williams was that he insisted that the Native Americans owned the land, not the King of England, and that colonists ought to purchase the land fairly. The charge that the state had no authority over religious conscience came second!) The story of Baptist (and Anabaptist) struggle for religious liberty is told most thoroughly in William R. Estep’s, Revolution within the Revolution. I have tried for some time to show that, unlike liberal and moderate Baptist recitations (including Truett’s speech here), it did not stand on its own–but was part of a larger Baptist struggle for human rights–of which religious liberty and church state separation was only a part. (For instance, the first charge that the Mass. Puritans registered against Roger Williams was that he insisted that the Native Americans owned the land, not the King of England, and that colonists ought to purchase the land fairly. The charge that the state had no authority over religious conscience came second!)

]]> By: D. P. http://pursiful.com/2007/10/religious-freedom-this-baptist-says-youre-welcome/comment-page-1/#comment-766 D. P. Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:04:15 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=517#comment-766 PS, sadly many Baptist churches have come to disown this particular aspect of their history. I attribute this largely to the fact that, unlike past generations when we were a religious minority, now we have achieved a degree of numerical success. It is always easier to fight for the "little guy" when he's you! And it's always easier to appeal to "majority rule" when you're in it. PS, sadly many Baptist churches have come to disown this particular aspect of their history. I attribute this largely to the fact that, unlike past generations when we were a religious minority, now we have achieved a degree of numerical success. It is always easier to fight for the “little guy” when he’s you! And it’s always easier to appeal to “majority rule” when you’re in it.

]]> By: PS http://pursiful.com/2007/10/religious-freedom-this-baptist-says-youre-welcome/comment-page-1/#comment-765 PS Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:16:18 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=517#comment-765 Interesting! I don't know anything about the history of the baptists, so I'm willing to learn. These days, there is a trend in "conservative" churches, to which description I've assumed that many Baptist churches belong, to have prayer in schools and other public places. I've always assumed that if we allow Christian prayer and symbols, we have to allow other types of religions as well. To me this at least muddies the waters of the separation of church and state. Or is this a different issue? Interesting! I don’t know anything about the history of the baptists, so I’m willing to learn.

These days, there is a trend in “conservative” churches, to which description I’ve assumed that many Baptist churches belong, to have prayer in schools and other public places. I’ve always assumed that if we allow Christian prayer and symbols, we have to allow other types of religions as well. To me this at least muddies the waters of the separation of church and state. Or is this a different issue?

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