ABSTRACT
The doctrine of church/state separation developed out of different motivations and religious perspectives in the modern world. The Reformation first developed its concept of separation out of the growing dissidence in the church within the medieval period, which questioned the exercise of temporal powers in the papacy. In America, the Protestant propensity toward church/state separation was represented by a number of important groups and individuals among the early colonists. William Bradford and his Pilgrims represented the original separatist tradition of Congregationalism, which sought to reform the church outside of governmental authority and create a pure fellowship apart from the corrupting influence of temporal powers. Roger Williams followed this part of the Congregationalist tradition in his desire to create a fellowship of true believers, causing a schism within the Massachusetts Bay Colony through his sanctimonious preachments against the established authority within the church and state.
