Roger Williams: podcast appearances and interviews

Roger Williams is the host of the podcast Squatchin Holler and is affiliated with New City Church. His background includes a history of advocacy for religious liberty and separation of church and state. Williams is known for his commitment to fair dealings with Native Americans and his contributions to the principles of religious tolerance. He founded the Providence Plantations in 1636 as a safe haven that offered 'liberty of conscience,' which resulted in the formation of what became Rhode Island. The colony was notable for being the first government in the Western world to guarantee religious freedom in its founding charter. Williams initially was a Puritan minister before questioning the authority of the Puritan church. His beliefs led to his expulsion from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, after which he established Providence. He subsequently became a Baptist and founded the First Baptist Church in America in Providence in 1638. Later, he moved beyond organized religion to identify as a seeker, emphasizing individual spiritual exploration. Williams also studied the language of New England Native Americans and published the first book-length study of it in English. His ideas have had a lasting influence on debates about religious liberty, civil government, and the separation of church and state. His writings are frequently cited in legal arguments and Supreme Court decisions concerning religious freedom and civil rights.