Sola Scriptura and Sectarianism: The Rise of the Rogerenes in Colonial New London, 1664-1721 (Paperback)

<p>John Rogers and the Rogerenes is the story of unforeseen consequences of the</p><p>transatlantic trade. John Rogers and his brother, James, were wealthy New London</p><p>merchants who traded in more than just goods. They benefited from the exchange</p><p>of cultures, languages, and even religions. Indeed, those influences led John</p><p>Rogers to abandon Congregationalism and create America's first indigenous sect</p><p>based solely on the Bible.</p><p>As a dissenting group, John Rogers and his Rogerene followers leveraged the Bible</p><p>and oftentimes outlandish acts of protest to challenge the legitimacy of Connecticut's</p><p>established church and its theocratic stranglehold on the everyday lives of citizens.</p><p>In doing so, the Rogerene sect was an outcome of what one historian has called the</p><p>rough-and-tumble life of a colonial port town, New London. Their rich and varied</p><p>story stands in stark contrast to Connecticut's traditional reputation as the Land of</p><p>Steady Habits. The only thing steady about the Rogerenes was their unwavering faith</p><p>in the Word and their willingness to suffer persecution for their nonconformist faith.</p><p>Beyond their colorful history, the Rogerenes have much to teach us through their </p><p>influences on such varied subjects as the separation of church and state, polygamy, faith</p><p>healing, the importance of individualism, and the rights of the marginalized.</p>