Lecture Notes: Religious Freedom in Colonial New England

Introduction

• Topic: Religious freedom in Colonial New England
• Mention of Influencers:
  • John Winthrop
  • Ronald Reagan
  • Mitt Romney

Misconceptions of Religious Freedom in Colonial New England

• Common Belief:
  • Pilgrims traveled to Massachusetts for religious freedom.
  • Misinterpretation of religious freedom as we understand today.
• Historical Context:
  • John Winthrop's "city upon a hill": Incorrectly associated with modern religious freedom.

John Winthrop's Vision

• "City on a Hill" Concept:
  • Taken from the Bible, espoused by John Winthrop for Massachusetts Bay Colony.
  • Focus on religious Commonwealth, not on pluralistic freedom.
  • Concern over failure and ridicule ("story and a byword through the world").

Political Appropriation

• Ronald Reagan's Farewell Address:
  • Incorrectly painted Puritan leaders as champions of religious liberty.
• Mitt Romney (2012 Election):
  • Used Reagan's narrative.

The Reality of Puritan Society

• Puritan Community:
  • Centralized around community and conformity.
  • Emphasis on collective belief over individual expression.
  • Theocratic government—not religiously pluralistic.

Origins of Religious Toleration in New England

• Important Figures:
  • Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson
  • Advocated for religious freedom and were exiled from Massachusetts.

Conclusion

• Summary:
  • Massachusetts Bay Colony was not a haven of religious freedom in a modern sense.
  • Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson were pioneers of religious toleration.
• Next Focus:
  • Further discussion on Williams and Hutchinson in subsequent lectures.