Page "Roger Williams (theologian)" Paragraph 28

He regarded any effort by the state to dictate religion or promote any particular religious idea or practice to be “ forced worship ”.

And he colorfully declared that “ forced worship stinks in the nostrils of God ”.

He would write that he saw no warrant in the New Testament to use the sword to promote religious belief.

Indeed, he said that Constantine had been a worse enemy to true Christianity than Nero because Constantine ’ s support had corrupted Christianity and led to the death of the Christian church.

In the strongest language he described the attempt to compel belief to be rape of the soul, and he spoke of the “ oceans of blood ” shed as a result of trying to command conformity.

He believed that the moral principles found in the Scriptures ought to inform the civil magistrates, but he observed that well ordered, just, and civil governments existed where Christianity was not present.

All governments were required to maintain civil order and justice, but none had a warrant to promote any religion.