The Origins of Religious Freedom in America: The Perception of Accompaniment (Issues in Religious Studies)

Gods, devils, spirits, and their devotees battled Puritan governments in colonial America for religious freedom. But Puritan leaders demanded that all such deities and their followers be driven out of the public square, including not only witches and warlocks but also Quakers, Catholics, Jews, and even Baptists. Despite attacks on their liberty, many of these colonial "heretics and cultists" refused to surrender, enduring loss of jobs, property, and brutal violence for generations in their struggle for religious liberty. Their story reveals that they were fortified by a Perception of Accompaniment empowering them to outlast their persecutors. This unique perception caused them to believe they were not alone but were in contact with Invisible Powers who valued them and directed their actions and beliefs, both personal and political. Entering into their worldview allows readers to understand how crucial this special perception was to the rise of religious liberty and separation of church and state in America. The trials and tribulations of these dissidents prepared the way for tolerance and in time joined with the Enlightenment of the eighteenth century to create the American Constitution with its guarantee of freedom of speech, press, and religion.

J. Phillip Arnold serves as Executive Director of The Reunion Institute. He received an MA in American history and an MA in religion prior to his doctorate in religious studies. He has served as instructor at the University of Houston, Rice University, and the Houston Graduate School of Theology. Arnold has been an outspoken advocate for religious liberty, has served as advisor to the FBI in conflicts with extremist groups, and has testified before Congress on the separation of church and state.