Ben Franklin's World

417 Roger Williams, Rogue Puritan


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When we think of early American champions of religious liberty, one name often rises above the rest: Roger Williams.

Best known as the founder of Rhode Island and a fierce advocate for the separation of church and state, Williams was a man who defied convention at every turn. He turned down a prestigious post in Boston, challenged Puritan orthodoxy, and was ultimately banished—only to build a new colony rooted in his radical ideas of liberty of conscience and religious toleration.

In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of this “nonconformist among nonconformists” with the co-editors of Reading Roger Williams: Rogue Puritans, Indigenous Nations, and the Founding of America: 

  • Linford Fisher, Associate Professor of History at Brown University
  • Sheila McIntyre, Professor of History at SUNY Potsdam
  • Julie Fisher, scholar of Native American history
  • Together, they help us uncover:

    1. How Williams challenged both church and colonial authority
    2. His relationships with Indigenous communities and his work as a translator
    3. And why his ideas still matter for understanding religious freedom in America today.
    4. Guests' Book


      Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/417
       
      RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES
      🎧 Episode 118: The Business of Slavery in Rhode Island
      🎧 Episode 290: The World of the Wampanoag, Pt. 1
      🎧 Episode 291: The World of the Wampanoag, Pt. 2
      🎧 Episode 356: The Moravian Church in North America
      🎧 Episode 373: The Gaspee Affair
      🎧 Episode 392: Religion and Race in Early America


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