King Philip's War?

Question

I'm aware that the issue over land was the largest source of conflict between the Native Americans and English colonists but I was wondering why "the issue on Religion" really wasnt the main issue and why it only contributed a little to the conflict.

Answer 1

While the religious aspect was problematic, the major problem was the fact that the English colonists kept encroaching on the land of the Wampanoag Confederacy. Worse, the leaders of the Wampanoags (Wamsutta and Metacom (King Philip)), felt the colonists were being duplicitous, and that they had abused the trust that Massasoit had built with them in years past.

When Wamsutta died in Plymouth negotiating with the colonists, and later when the colonists tried to force the local tribes to give up their weapons, it made both sides distrust the other and prepare for war.

The religious aspect was just yet another open wound between the two sides that caused antagonism. Even if you take the religious differences away, the other issues were more than sufficient to start a war.

Answer 2

Because the aristocrats in Europe viewed the religious movement as fanatical and really didn't take it seriously. The Quakers and Puritans were the equivalent to our day and age Born Again's.