Another book covering King Phillip’s War in 17th-century New England (see Flintlock and Tomahawk and The Name of War). God, War, and Providence focuses on Roger Williams, the Rhode Island colony, and the Narragansetts. Williams comes across as an interesting man; a devout Christian, yet tolerant of others; the Rhode Island colony became a place of refuge for people expelled for heterodoxy by the Puritans in Massachusetts and Plymouth Colony. Much of the book discusses political wrangling among Williams and Rhode Island; Parliament and colonial administrators back in England; the United Colonies (Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Connecticut); and the Narragansetts. Puritan behavior in the conflicts confirms my belief that if you really, truly think you are doing God’s Work, you can justify any amount of deceit. The Puritans forged documents, ignored directives from Parliament, and exploited the natives all in the name of their version of Christianity. I must say there isn’t any evidence the Puritans were cynical about this; they legitimately believed that they were doing God’s work and frustrating Satan when they lied, cheated, stole and murdered.

Williams comes across as a champion of Native Americans at a time when that was a singularly unpopular position; he repeatedly intervened, usually successfully, on behalf of the Narragansetts. (It’s thus ironic that when the Narragansetts had finally had enough of the colonists and joined with Philip, they looted and burned William’s house too. However, they left the 73-year-old Williams unharmed as he remonstrated with them),

Author James Warren is primarily a military historian, but he explains the political struggles in the colonies quite well. This is a smooth and easy read. Endnotes, bibliography, and a plate section with relevant illustrations. ( )

Warren provides us with an intriguing, factual account of Roger Williams work with the Narragansett Indians to achieve freedom of conscience and against Puritan aggression to aggrandize their personal wealth at the expense of the American Indians.

Warren quotes Harvard historian, Perry Miller, saying, "for Williams 'the Christian predicament –– which was also the glory of Christianity –– was to hold what the believer conceives to be truth with fierce tenacity, yet never attempting to impose that truth upon the minds pr souls of men,'" especially by coercion, force, and or threats to life.

Williams saw the "dire implications of... mistakes[ing] their own vision of truth and the good society for God's" (p.253).

And engaging and eye-opening read. ( )