Susan Lim

Sola Scriptura and Sectarianism Susan Lim

John Rogers and the Rogerenes is the story of unforeseen consequences of the

transatlantic trade. John Rogers and his brother, James, were wealthy New London

merchants who traded in more than just goods. They benefited from the exchange

of cultures, languages, and even religions. Indeed, those influences led John

Rogers to abandon Congregationalism and create America's first indigenous sect

based solely on the Bible.

As a dissenting group, John Rogers and his Rogerene followers leveraged the Bible

and oftentimes outlandish acts of protest to challenge the legitimacy of Connecticut's

established church and its theocratic stranglehold on the everyday lives of citizens.

In doing so, the Rogerene sect was an outcome of what one historian has called the

rough-and-tumble life of a colonial port town, New London. Their rich and varied

story stands in stark contrast to Connecticut's traditional reputation as the Land of

Steady Habits. The only thing steady about the Rogerenes was their unwavering faith

in the Word and their willingness to suffer persecution for their nonconformist faith.

Beyond their colorful history, the Rogerenes have much to teach us through their

influences on such varied subjects as the separation of church and state, polygamy, faith

healing, the importance of individualism, and the rights of the marginalized.