Now that we have looked, first-hand, at the atrocities people endured in the name of theological correctness, let's take a look at life in a society where freedom of religion is guaranteed by law. As you look at these pictures remember: Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail. But, in America we have what makes the ultimate difference: A law that assures freedom of religion and, when that law is broken, a legal process to help us correct the wrong.

In 1770, a group of Baptists were free to be baptized in a river.

Seven years after those Baptists were free to hold services by the riverside, these preachers (also conducting an outside service) were attacked by a gang. It was 1778, two years after the Declaration of Independence.

Many of the early Americans used religious themes to help them look at, and understand, their daily lives. A good example is this "Tree of Life."

In the 19th century, and before, people gathered together at "camp meetings" to hear famous preachers from America and from Europe. Sometimes the best preachers drew crowds of 30,000. This is a camp meeting from 1801.

In order for the crowds to see them, traveling preachers needed moveable platforms. This traveling pulpit is an example. It was high enough for people in the back to get a glimpse of the orator.

Preachers who traveled everywhere to deliver their sermons were called "Circuit-riding Preachers." They traveled on horseback, through all kinds of bad weather - just like this circuit rider. No special legal requirements were imposed on him. Traveling preachers didn't have to have special papers allowing them to speak their mind. They didn't need a governmental permit giving them authority to talk.

Today it often annoys us when religious groups attempt to give us their materials while we're trying to rush through busy airports. But think back to a time and place when distributing those materials was forbidden by law. In America, people have the right to distribute religious information, just like the folks in this 1825 picture.

An 1839 camp meeting would have been just one of many that year.

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