About this episode

Jerry Eicher reflects on the Anabaptist roots of religious freedom in an episode timed for July 4th.

Host Jerry Eicher reflects on the Anabaptist roots of religious freedom in an episode timed for July 4th. Guests and voices referenced include Steve Stuzman (Straight Paths Ministry), Gene Edwards, and Walter Beachy. The conversation traces the Anabaptist conviction of the church as local gathered believers, their rejection of state-backed religion and infant baptism, and the brutal persecution they endured for that stance. The episode explores how those radical ideas influenced early American thinking about separation of church and state, the framers’ experiment in religious liberty, and why conservative Anabaptists today are grateful for the protections that allow free worship. Key points include the theological basis for church autonomy, historical examples of persecution, and a grateful assessment of America’s experiment in religious freedom despite its flaws.

People in this episode

Host: Jerry Eicher

Topics covered

• Anabaptist history
• religious freedom
• separation of church and state
• persecution
• theological autonomy
• American religious liberty

Keywords

• Anabaptists
• religious freedom
• church autonomy
• persecution
• July 4th
• American history
• state-backed religion

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Straight Paths Ministry

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