This week in Christian history: Jerry Falwell Sr. resigns, Church council, Puritans

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, November 03, 2019

Puritans pass law banning disbelief in the Bible – November 4, 1646

This week marks the anniversary of when Puritans in Massachusetts passed a law making it a crime for someone to deny the divine inspiration of the Bible.

The measure was enacted partly in response to theological differences within the colony and it carried a capital punishment if violated.

Get Our Latest News for FREE

Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

Subscribe

“For the Puritans, it was unthinkable that the teachings of the Bible were meant to deal only with a narrow religious sphere. They believed the Scriptures provided the rule and guidance for all of life — government, economics, education, church, family, and morals,” noted Christianity.com.

“The penalty for persistence in this error was death. The same act also set a fine of five shillings for failing to attend church on Sunday.”