This is lecture #4 in the series, and gets down in the weeds a bit.
But I found interesting the discussion of Samuel Davies that began around the 15:45 mark. He was most active in Hanover County, Virginia which sits in the northeastern part of the Richmond metro area. He advocated for religious toleration in that colony– i.e., allowing different Protestant denominations to preach and establish churches and evangelize. The speaker clarifies that Davies would not have advocated for the neutral religious pluralism we have today which allows non-Christian religions to vie on an equal playing field with Christianity.
The lecture reveals that he encountered a very young George Washington and recognized his potential for great leadership.
Davies’ work led to the passage– after his death– of the Declaration of Rights in Virginia which was a major precursor to religious liberty being embedded into our Constitution:
Christianity & the Founding Session 4: Francis Makemie, Samuel Davies, & Religious Toleration – Rev. Sean McGowan (@irishpresby) pic.twitter.com/3PDgw9BBKc
— Truthscript (@Truth_Script) May 15, 2025
Veritas.
Good stuff, Fred.