Clergy Loyal to the Crown? Interview with Dr. Gregg Frazer

We're exploring a side of the American Revolution that often gets overlooked. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Gregg Frazer to discuss his book God against the Revolution: The Loyalist Clergy's Case against the American Revolution.

Romans 13:1 says, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." This biblical principle of obeying authority is at the heart of Frazer's book.

Frazer’s work offers the first comprehensive account of the political thought of the American Loyalists – the roughly one-third of the population who opposed independence. While we know much about the Patriots, what about those who loved their land but didn't support breaking away from Britain? Frazer digs into the biblical, philosophical, and legal arguments made by Loyalist ministers in their writings, pamphlets, and sermons. These clergymen were far from being mere apologists for British rule; they criticized its excesses while arguing for adherence to English law and authority.

In our interview, we'll explore how these Loyalist ministers' perspectives provide an interesting counterpoint to the Patriots' fight for liberty, equality, and representation. Frazer raises challenging questions about the rationality and legitimacy of the Patriots' actions and their impacts on freedom of religion, expression, and due process.

So how should we examine the Bible's command to submit to authority? This discussion is not only an interesting addition to our understanding of American political thought but also a timely reflection on the political dynamics of our own era.

Join us as we delve into this nuanced and often forgotten perspective on the American Revolution.

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Gregg L. Frazer is Dean, John P. Stead School of Humanities, and Professor of History & Political Studies at The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, California. He’s the author of The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders: Reason, Revelation, and Revolution (University Press of Kansas). Gregg is a deacon at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California.

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