Enlightened Evangelicals: The Subversive Architects of Freedom of Religion

Two hundred years ago, powerful Enlightenment-influenced politicians joined forces with Evangelical preachers around a unique sort of providentialism. Their political movement won an exceptional version of both religious and civil liberty. The instrumental role of Evangelicals in this struggle has urgent relevance for the contemporary world and Gospel proclamation, but sadly, it has been isolated, forgotten, or misunderstood by people on all sides of the theological/political spectrum. The ideas behind the unique alliance presented in this talk are more than just a fresh way to frame the historical picture of freedom of religion and belief. As a global philosophy, this ideological alliance has had a profound role in shaping contemporary concepts of religion, state, and society.