rl 1-student program

8/2/2019 RL 1-Student Program

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Educating Young People about the Constitution

www.BillofRightsInstitute.org

Religious Liberty:The American Experiment

Lesson 1Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island

Two Views of Religious Liberty


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Massachusetts Bay and Rhode IslandTwo Views ofReligious Liberty


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What is religious liberty? Discuss with a partner

or two and reach a consensus definition.

All the people of god within this Jurisdiction who are not in a churchway, and be orthodox in Judgment, and not scandalous in life, shall

have full liberty to gather themselves into a Church Estate. Providedthey do it in a Christian way, with due observation of the rules ofChrist revealed in his word.

The Liberties of the Massachusetts Colony in New England, 1641

[T]hey have freely declared, that it is much on their hearts (if theymay be permitted), to hold forth a lively experiment, that a mostflourishing civil state may stand and best be maintained, and thatamong our English subjects, with a full liberty in religiousconcernments

Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1663


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Overview

For Puritans like those who settledMassachusetts Bay, religious liberty meantthe freedom to establish religiouscommunities, and to reject from those

communities those who did not share theirreligious perspective.

By contrast, Rhode Island was founded onthe express principle of religious freedom

for all. Rhode Island welcomed people ofevery (or no) faith, including Quakers and

Jews, who were not permitted religiousfreedom anywhere else in the NorthAmerican colonies.



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Our Learning Goals

Understand the place of John Winthrop and Roger Williamsin American history.

Compare and contrast competing models of religious libertyin Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island.

Assess the significance of each model to the Americanexperiment in religious liberty.

Last Nights HomeworkEssay: Massachusetts and Rhode IslandTw

Models of Religious Liberty

Answer the comprehension and critical thinkiquestions.



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Warm-Up--

You will receive a Club IdentityCard from Handout A. Formgroups based on identity:

Football Club

Music Club

Literature Club

Computer ClubReformers



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Each group (except reformers)

should fill out Handout B: ClubPlans.

Reformers should discuss the

directions on Handout C andthen try to join their respectiveclub

Warm-Up



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One group will role play their

interaction for the class.

DEBRIEF:As a class discuss the following questions:

How many reformers were acceptedinto the clubs? On what basis were theyadmitted or rejected?

How many clubs would have admittedsomeone as a member who did NOT

share their views? Should voluntary groups be forced to

admit members who: dont share their goals?

have a goal of banning its existence?

Warm-Up



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Activity

Read Handout D: Winthrop andWilliams-Two Views of ReligiousLiberty.

Read the Section on John Winthrop andcomplete the discussion questions.Continue with the section on RogerWilliams.

Discuss the answers to the discussionquestions.

Work on Handout E: Venn Diagram astime allows.



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Wrap-Up

Review the Warm-Up activity. Whichmodel of church-state relationswould your group have adopted?

As a large group discuss these questions:

The Puritans are sometimes criticizedfor a hypocritical approach toreligious libertythat they wantedreligious freedom but denied it toothers. Is this a fair criticism? Why or

why not? Does it surprise you that

Massachusetts was the last of all thestates to disestablish its state church?Why or Why not?



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Wrap-Up: Continued

As a large group discuss thesequestions:

What was the express purpose ofthe colony of road Island?

Why do you think the colonies,and, eventually, the states,followed the model of Rhode

Island and not MassachusettsBay?



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Homework: Complete Handout E: VennDiagram. (answers on the next slide)

Massachusetts Bay Rhode IslandBoth


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Two Views: Handouts D & EMassachusetts Bay Rhode IslandBoth

John Winthrop

Puritans

Model of Christian

Charity

Massachusetts Body ofLiberties

Nathaniel Ward

Religious Libertyincludes a peoples rightto exclude non-believers.

Roger Williams

Separation of Churchand State

Rhode Island Charter

Providence Agreement

Bloudy Tenet ofPersecution

Religious Liberty meansfreedom of individualconscience.

Established in part for

the purpose ofproviding something tothe world.

Theological argumentsfor religious liberty

Goal of peaceful &successful way of life.

Handout D:

Winthrop--Passagesfrom A Model

of ChristianCharity, 1630

Handout D:Williams--

Passagesfrom The

Bloudy Tenet

ofPersecution,1644


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Extension

Research the 2009 court case Christian Legal Society Chapter v.Martinez. Assume the persona of either John Winthrop or RogerWilliams, and write a brief editorial on the ruling. Students can

begin their research atwww.billofrightsinstitute.org/religiousliberty

Justice Ginsburg: Majority Opinion Justice Alito: Dissenting Opinion

http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/religiouslibertyhttp://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/religiousliberty

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