The London Lyceum Religious Freedom with John Wilsey
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May 21, 2025 Dr. John Wilsey, an author and scholar specializing in American religious liberty, discusses his latest book on religious freedom. He explores the unique American tradition of religious liberty and its historical roots, particularly through Thomas Helwys's contributions. Wilsey articulates the relationship between conservatism and religious freedom, advocating for a balance between order and liberty. He challenges misconceptions about nationalism and emphasizes the importance of a long-term conservative perspective in facing cultural challenges.
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How The Book Originated
- Wilsey recounts how his project began as a reader he wrote from 2011 onward but publishers rejected it.
- Encouraged by his editor to write a single book, he reworked the project into a conservative primer on religious freedom.
America Founded On Religious Freedom
- The United States is unique because it built negative religious freedom into its founding political structure.
- The First Amendment is the first legal statement guaranteeing religious liberty and anchors other freedoms in American life.
Conservatives Are Suited To Defend Liberty
- Wilsey argues conservatives are best positioned to defend religious freedom because of their disposition toward conserving permanent things.
- The book frames religious freedom as a worldview conservatives can preserve through prudence and retrieval.
