13 Facts About Abner Kneeland

Abner Kneeland was an American evangelist and theologian who advocated views on women's rights, racial equality, and religious skepticism that were radical for his day.

Abner Kneeland was the last man in the United States jailed for blasphemy.

Abner Kneeland served as minister of various churches for a time, helping organize hymnals and making his own translation of the New Testament.

Abner Kneeland debated with other public theologians of the day.

Abner Kneeland became a freethinker and pantheist, saying that the Universalist's Christian God was "nothing more than a chimera of their own imagination".

However, perhaps because his other views inflamed the judiciary, Abner Kneeland was charged with having violated the law.

Abner Kneeland was described by the judge as "a cantankerous and inflexible heretic".

Abner Kneeland left Massachusetts after the trial and moved to Iowa, where he started a small utopian community named Salubria.

In matters of religion, Abner Kneeland became more and more disenchanted of religion handed down from some prophet and enshrined by tradition.

Abner Kneeland disdained societal mores, preferring naturalistic and personal quests for truth.

Abner Kneeland believed in equal treatment for all people, both under the law as well as by society.

Abner Kneeland applied this even when religious scripture would seem to indicate different roles.

Abner Kneeland allowed fiery abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison the use of his lecture hall when the churches in Boston had turned him away.