ABSTRACT
Pietistic Baptists, especially in New England, argued and acted effectively against church establishment. Their most eloquent spokesman, Isaac Backus (1724-1806) organized a successful challenge against an attempt by the township of Attleboro, Massachusetts to exact religious taxes for the support of the Congregationalist Church from non-Congregationalists. Backus and his followers saw this as a victory for religious equality. However, unlike Jefferson and Madison, they approved of a state which guaranteed Christianity so long as political authorities did not discriminate against particular sects.
