In September of 1620, thirty-five members of Pastor John Robinson’s congregation left England on the Mayflower to establish a Separatist settlement in the New World. Known as the pastor of the Pilgrim Fathers, Pastor Robinson remained in Holland with the majority of his congregation to continue the Separatist struggle, bidding those about to sail to be ready to receive what God might reveal to them. In his words, "For I am very confident the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth out of his holy work." Sensing the potential for dissent among the Pilgrims and knowing their needs, Pastor Robinson sent with them a letter outlining a basis and plans for their new government. It is widely believed that this letter inspired the Mayflower Compact, arguably the most significant and far-reaching document in political thought. Not quite 200 words, it established for the first time in human history the principles of democratic government, equality and justice under law, and the separation of church and state. To this day, these principles are influencing social and political development throughout the whole world.

A monk, biblical scholar, linguist and professor, Martin Luther became the central force behind the Reformation and thus founded Protestantism (taken from the word "protest"). His gift was the exegesis and exposition of scripture, about which he taught and preached often. On October 31, 1517, he drew up 95 theses and nailed them to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church. When the Latin was translated into German, a great conflict arose. It challenged the church’s institutional authority over the spiritual formation of people. His central message was that salvation comes by grace through faith ("justification by faith alone"). It is not something earned by prescribed behavior or subject to spiritual barter. Spirituality is not ritually determined nor institutionally regulated, but is a deeply personal and inwardly established relationship with God. This insight became the foundation of Protestantism and the basis of much spiritual questing.

The founder of the Franciscan Order, St. Francis assumed the leadership of a religious movement in the early 13^th century that attempted to reform the medieval church. Francis’ fraternal charity and total poverty, coupled with his magnetic personality, drew thousands of followers during his life and made him in each succeeding age one of the most venerated of religious figures. St. Francis considered all nature as the mirror of God and set about to literally carry out Christ’s work in Christ’s own way. This implied for Francis a lucid and conscious spiritual discipline that fosters progressive spiritual formation. His spirituality emphasized "ecstasy" or "mystical union," a unitive experience of the Divine that disassociates from attachments to the world in order to love and serve the world. Francis’ mysticism was a fusion of life with life, being with being, God transcendent with God incarnate, as characterized by Jesus’ dictum: "God is in me and I am in God."

Mohammed unified Arab tribes around a belief in Allah as the one true God. He served as the prophet of God and lawgiver to the people, aiming at establishing a society dependent on a common faith. Mohammed at times lays all stress on God, the almighty, and at other times emphasizes man’s responsibility and power. At all times, though, surrender to God is the foundation of his belief. Mohammed founded Islam by emphasizing strict monotheism. Beginning in the 7^th century, C.E., Islam is now one of the leading and fastest growing of world religions. The word "Islam" means "surrender." Its root letters, "SLM," are the same as the Hebrew word, "Shalom." Islam also connotes "peace." This is the fundamental ideal of Islam. Mohammed’s Islam embraces the prophetic witness of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and many others. Islam, like all religions, has many approaches and "denominations." However, all Muslims have a common sense of belonging to a common community, united by the Koran, the words of Allah as revealed to Mohammed.