Thomas Helwys (c. 1575 – c. 1616), an Englishman, was one of the joint founders, with John Smyth, of the General Baptist denomination.
In the early seventeenth century, Helwys was principal formulator of that distinctively Baptist request: that the church and the state be kept separate in matters of law, so that individuals might have a freedom of religious conscience. Thomas Helwys was an advocate of religious liberty at a time when to hold to such views could be dangerous. He died in prison as a consequence of the religious persecution of Protestant dissenters under King James I.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Helwys
Now, the Xian bashers have a quandary: If they what to rid the U.S. of all that Evul Xian Influence, they will have to get rid of the Bill Of Rights, stop teaching anything to do with the Founders, and sell the Howard Zinn fantasy version of American history. Not a very 'objective' or 'scientific' project, but necessary to appease the 'NAMBLA Logic' that dominates current mindless neo-fascist thinking on the left.
"NAMBLA" logic - an extreme absolutist position which demands that for logical consistencies sake that certain gross crimes be allowed, in order that no one might feel restrained."-Stirling S. Newberry
“Freedom of speech is unnecessary if the people to whom it is granted do not think for themselves.” ― Mokokoma Mokhonoana
