”Unnecessary, Unlawful, Ungodly, and Unchristian”

In this talk on the "Temptations of Jesus," Ronnie centers the reformer Roger Williams and his critique of corrupting power. Williams, the eventual founder of Rhode Island, rejected the use of abusive power as a means of religious ends; as a power-holding, power-wielding church would always become an oppressor of conscience. Williams wrote forcefully from his exile among the native tribes of New England wilderness: "I feel safer among these Christian savages than I do among the savage Christians." This savagery was fueled by the false - but forced - requirement of religious uniformity. Roger Williams said: "God does not require a uniformity of religion to be enacted or enforced; and does not need a sword of steel to assist the sword of the Spirit. To enforce uniformity is to deny the very principles of Christianity. It is the greatest occasion of civil war, a raping of the conscience, persecution of Christ Jesus, and makes hypocrisy and destruction of millions of souls. It is unnecessary, unlawful, ungodly, and unchristian.”