Changes

Cracks in the Puritan way became clear in the Halfway Covenant of 1657.  This was an agreement (a covenant) achieved at an assembly of Puritans from Massachusetts and Connecticut to allow halfway church membership and baptism for sinners.  Second and third-generation Puritans seemed more interested in money than having the "born again" religious conversion necessary to become a full member of the Puritan Church and to be allowed to baptize their children in the Church.  The Reverend Solomon Stoddard, whose grandson would be [[Jonathan Edwards]] (whom we will discuss in the next class), proposed partial or '''''"halfway" membership''''' in the Church of children and grandchildren of Church members.  All the children and grandchildren need do was accept the Covenant and agree to the beliefs and rules of the Church, in order to participate in the sacraments of the Church.  But they would not be allowed to vote on any Church issues until they had a spiritual conversion.  This "halfway covenant" was adopted, but continued to be resisted by people on both sides of the issue:  some who thought it was too lenient, and others opposed it as too strict.

Cracks in the Puritan way became clear in the Halfway Covenant of 1657.  This was an agreement (a covenant) achieved at an assembly of Puritans from Massachusetts and Connecticut to allow halfway church membership and baptism for sinners.  Second and third-generation Puritans seemed more interested in money than having the "born again" religious conversion necessary to become a full member of the Puritan Church and to be allowed to baptize their children in the Church.  The Reverend Solomon Stoddard, whose grandson would be [[Jonathan Edwards]] (whom we will discuss in the next class), proposed partial or '''''"halfway" membership''''' in the Church of children and grandchildren of Church members.  All the children and grandchildren need do was accept the Covenant and agree to the beliefs and rules of the Church, in order to participate in the sacraments of the Church.  But they would not be allowed to vote on any Church issues until they had a spiritual conversion.  This "halfway covenant" was adopted, but continued to be resisted by people on both sides of the issue:  some who thought it was too lenient, and others opposed it as too strict.

One prominent textbook claims, under "Rhode Island," that "This belief [by Roger Williams] in the separation of church and state became a cornerstone of the American Constitution in 1787."  That is overstated.  Roger Williams was long dead by 1787, and there is no separation of church and state in the Constitution.  Rhode Island did not even send any representatives to draft the Constitution and it had no role in the drafting of the Bill of Rights.  In fact, Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until after George Washington was elected president, and even then Rhode Island only reluctantly ratified the Constitution.  The First Amendment (in the Bill of Rights) prohibits only the establishment of a national church by the government, not the support of religion by state governments.  Also, Rhode Island was the '''only''' colony that had a "separation" of church and state.  Other colonies, such as Massachusetts, funded religious institutions.

One prominent textbook claims, under "Rhode Island," that "This belief [by Roger Williams] in the separation of church and state became a cornerstone of the American Constitution in 1787."  That is overstated, because Rhode Island had no influence on the Constitution or the Bill of Rights which became its first ten amendments.  Rhode Island did not send any representatives to draft the Constitution and it had no role in the drafting of the Bill of Rights.  In fact, Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until after George Washington was elected president.  The First Amendment (in the Bill of Rights) prohibits only the establishment of a national church by the government, not the support of religion by state governments.  Also, Rhode Island was the '''only''' colony that had a "separation" of church and state.  Other colonies, such as Massachusetts, funded religious institutions before and after adoption of the Constitution.

In between Massachusetts and Virginia there was a third approach:  that taken by Pennsylvania.  William Penn was another extraordinary Englishman.  He converted to become a Quaker in England and began practicing that religion in violation of English law.  He was arrested and prosecuted, but the jury refused to convict him.  The king owed his father money, and gave the son what is today Pennsylvania.  It was nothing but woods at the time.  William Penn founded Pennsylvania based on this principle:  religious freedom for all.  He advertised in Europe and attracted people from many countries in addition to the English.

In between Massachusetts and Virginia there was a third approach:  that taken by Pennsylvania.  William Penn was another extraordinary Englishman.  He converted to become a Quaker in England and began practicing that religion in violation of English law.  He was arrested and prosecuted, but the jury refused to convict him.  The king owed his father money, and gave the son what is today Pennsylvania.  It was nothing but woods at the time.  William Penn founded Pennsylvania based on this principle:  religious freedom for all.  He advertised in Europe and attracted people from many countries in addition to the English.