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Good posts from the jsource always a nice resource. As a aside, with respect to your Calvinist background, I find that interesting. I think it's fair to say that the Puritans were Calvinists. As far as I'm concerned the Puritans led the way in extending tolerance to the Jews in 17th century England (largely having been exluded from England - with some exceptions - since Edward I expelled then in the 13th century) which would serve as a hallmark and model for the American colonies. I'm thinking particularly of Roger Williams and the Delaware Valley and Rhode Island colonies which he founded which further helped move (with all due respect to Hooker and Winthrop) the traditonal Puritan position further along on the issue of the separation of church and state.