Research On Religion

Posts Tagged ‘New Lights’

Brandon O’Brien on Isaac Backus and Religious Liberty

Tags: American Revolution, Ashfield (MA), Baptists, Bill of Rights, First Continental Congress, George Whitefield, Great Awakening, Isaac Backus, Jim Backus, John Leland, Jonathan Edwards, New Lights, Nursing Fathers debate, religious freedom, religious liberty, religious taxes, separatists, Standing Order, Titcut parish

One of the unsung heroes of religious liberty in the United States is Isaac Backus. Dr. Brandon O’Brien (Redeemer City to City) explores the life and struggles of this colonial preacher and fighter for religious liberty, showing how Backus was able to thread the needle between government endorsed religion and a secular society.

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Michael McClymond on Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards is often considered one of the greatest theologians in US history. Prof. Michael McClymond reviews the fascinating life and times of Rev. Edwards and shows how his theology evolved over time based upon his surrounding circumstances and personal experiences. A serious intellectual who also relished in the beauty of God’s creation, Jonathan Edwards was at the forefront of a number of theological and religious trends that became hallmarks of American Protestantism.

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Mark David Hall on Roger Sherman, Puritan Patriot

Tags: Benjamin Franklin, covenants, First Amendment, Great Awakening, James Madison, John Adams, John Calvin, John Locke, New Lights, Reformed theology, religious liberty, Roger Sherman, Stephanus Junius Brutus, Thomas Jefferson, US Constitution

Just in time for July 4th, Mark David Hall discusses one of the least known of the most influential Founding Fathers in American history, Roger Sherman. Building on last week’s theme, Prof. Hall uses Roger Sherman to illustrate how Reformed (Calvinist) theology had a profound influence on American ideals and institutions. Roger Sherman, a staunch Calvinist from Connecticut, figured prominently in the formulation of several critical documents in US history, including the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the US Constitution (including the Bill of Rights). Prof. Hall also reflects upon the question of whether or not America was founded as a Christian nation.

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