CCHI 665 DB 2
To what extent were Baptists persecuted in Colonial America? Describe the contributions of Baptists in the fight for religious freedom. In what ways has this legacy continued today?
According to our text,” Restrictions upon Baptist varied at different times and places from mild harassment to severe persecutions. No Baptist is known to have been executed for religion in America. However, many Baptist were severely whipped, forced to pay taxes to support the state church, had property confiscated, paid fines, and suffered lingering imprisonments. They also faced public harassment; Baptist preachers endured occasional indignities, public baptisms were often mocked or disrupted by onlookers, and Hezekiah Smith complained that “a beetle was cast upon him” as he walked a public street.1
The Baptist contributed a lot in the fight for religious freedom. It was not until 1769 that the Baptist in New England united their voice and concerted action to the struggle for liberty. In that year, the warren Association formed its famous grievance committee to direct the Baptist struggle for freedom. The Grievance Committee gathered data on Baptist sufferings, presented petitions for redress to various courts and legislatures, and pushed for legislation to alleviate religious discrimination. That committee probably qualifies as the first organized religious lobby in America. Baptist in America has a tradition not only of preaching and practicing religious liberty but also of monitoring government legislation to protect the interest of Baptist and others.2
Baptists are still in the forefront of political issues that contradict our beliefs. Baptist’s lobbyists have a voice and once again stand for what we believe to be found within the word of God. The legacy of the Baptist heritage is standing for right (the word of God) at all cost. Although, there is limited physical persecutions to Baptist for our religious views that contradict political majority and world views; I believe we
According to our text,” Restrictions upon Baptist varied at different times and places from mild harassment to severe persecutions. No Baptist is known to have been executed for religion in America. However, many Baptist were severely whipped, forced to pay taxes to support the state church, had property confiscated, paid fines, and suffered lingering imprisonments. They also faced public harassment; Baptist preachers endured occasional indignities, public baptisms were often mocked or disrupted by onlookers, and Hezekiah Smith complained that “a beetle was cast upon him” as he walked a public street.1
The Baptist contributed a lot in the fight for religious freedom. It was not until 1769 that the Baptist in New England united their voice and concerted action to the struggle for liberty. In that year, the warren Association formed its famous grievance committee to direct the Baptist struggle for freedom. The Grievance Committee gathered data on Baptist sufferings, presented petitions for redress to various courts and legislatures, and pushed for legislation to alleviate religious discrimination. That committee probably qualifies as the first organized religious lobby in America. Baptist in America has a tradition not only of preaching and practicing religious liberty but also of monitoring government legislation to protect the interest of Baptist and others.2
Baptists are still in the forefront of political issues that contradict our beliefs. Baptist’s lobbyists have a voice and once again stand for what we believe to be found within the word of God. The legacy of the Baptist heritage is standing for right (the word of God) at all cost. Although, there is limited physical persecutions to Baptist for our religious views that contradict political majority and world views; I believe we