Of course, there are dangers in religious freedom and freedom of opinion. But to deny these rights is worse than dangerous, it is absolutely fatal to liberty. – Harry S. Truman

History records that the Danes were some of the greatest protectors of Jews, risking their own lives. In the past they have been respectful of all Jewish beliefs. That’s sadly changed. Animals being slaughtered according to halal or kosher is critical for both Jews and Muslims. Yet, Denmark has outlawed halal and kosher slaughter. Danish Minister of Agriculture and Food, Dan Jorgensen went so far as to say, “Animal rights come before religion.” Yet mere days before the law went into effect, a giraffe in the Copenhagen Zoo was slaughtered before the eyes of visiting children. “Marius” was dismembered in front of a zoo audience of families with children and then fed to the zoo’s lions. So, slaughter is legal, just not when Jews or Muslims do it in accordance with their religious convictions.  

While Muslim calls to prayer are legal in Britain, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce was arrested twice for praying silently near an abortion clinic. Scotland has “buffer zones laws” protecting abortion clinics. The laws are so draconian that the member of Parliament, Gillian Mackey, who authored it, admits it might be illegal to pray at home “depending on who passes the window.”

Our own government is turning up the heat, trying to smoke Christians out of the public square. Churches were forced to close during Covid for months even as casinos and strip clubs were allowed to stay open. HHS relentlessly prosecuted the Little Sisters of the Poor over their religious convictions against paying to provide for abortifacient contraceptives. It took nearly a decade for them to finally prevail at the Supreme Court.

Religious liberty and a thriving religious culture have been defining attributes, characterizing America as much as our political system and market economy. From the earliest settlements of the 1700s to the great social reform causes led by church congregations in the late 19^th and 20^th centuries, religion has been a dominant part of American life. 

A 2023 Gallup poll found that three in four Americans identify with a specific religious faith. Faith-based organizations are extremely active in providing for social needs at home or sending aid abroad. The Salvation Army, churches and the Southern Baptists rushed in, as they always do, to assist victims from the recent Texas floods. 

Freedom of religion is a cornerstone of the American experiment. Religious liberty is a “first freedom” because it stands at the center of what it means to be human. It declares that each person has value and dignity and is free to hold his or her own convictions, and then to align his or her life with those convictions. Just as vital, each one is free to do so openly without fear. The Constitution guarantees religious free exercise while prohibiting the establishment of a national religion. 

Our Founders frequently stated that virtue and religion are essential for a free society because they preserve “the moral conditions of freedom.” Religious liberty is foundational for all freedom. It provides the foundation for limited government. But today religious liberty is being threatened by those on the Left and Right. 

On the right the danger is found in those who argue that only Christians should have religious liberty, not others. They misinterpret the Bible, wanting to establish America as a theocracy. On the left there are those who want to reinterpret the Constitution’s freedom of “religious exercise,” limiting it to worship and in a house of worship. Yet, every world religion affects the public and private lives of its adherents. Christianity, for example, makes it clear that true worship involves offering our whole selves, all the time, to God (Romans 12:1). Nations without religious freedom suffer and their citizens often are impoverished. Religious freedom is directly connected with the ability to flourish. That’s because…

Religious freedom encourages free and flourishing societies. It creates space for cultural institutions with values that support free societies. Religious freedom has an impact on average income levels. It promotes overall prosperity and helps the poor move out of poverty. It encourages economic growth, fosters stability, reduces corruption, and promotes innovation. It reduces the risk of heavy handedness by government, allowing for a wider range of ideas which contribute to economic health.  

Religious freedom supports civil liberties. Religious freedom was important to our Founders. They knew without it we’d begin losing our civil liberties. They considered religious freedom a prerequisite of those liberties. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, “In America, it is religion which leads to enlightenment and the observance of divine laws which leads men to liberty.” Religious liberty encourages tolerance and promotes a culture of respect for diverse worldviews and practices. It ensures that individuals can exercise their faith without government interference. It helps protect fundamental freedoms like speech, assembly, and the press. Religious liberty, particularly the separation of church and state, which is not in the Constitution, was first defined by Thomas Jefferson to prevent government from interfering in the Church. It acknowledges a higher authority than the State, encouraging a more limited governmental role in people’s lives.

Religious freedom encourages strong families. Religious freedom and strong families have always been partners. The Pilgrims sought religious freedom and a place to live and worship God in a way they saw fit. The social, civic, and legal systems they created in order to carry this out were aligned with their strong Christian beliefs, which, for the most part, were perpetuated by the family. They saw the family as a little church, a little government, and a little society. It was in the family that future generations would be trained, learning the values necessary to lead purposeful lives. Religious freedom helped create space for making such contributions.

What can we do to protect religious liberty? First, vote for politicians who believe in it. Then use various opportunities for conversations, blogs, posts, even classroom debates to show that you support religious freedom. You will no doubt have to explain it. Make the case that religion can’t be restricted to the private realm. Religious beliefs are heartfelt and personal. That’s why they radiate from our speech and actions. True religion can’t be coerced and should never force others to fit into our religious mold.

Religion can’t be replaced. It’s a counterbalance to human government. It alone has the power to keep the government in check, preventing it from encroaching on every part of society. Those who want to eradicate religion in the public square need to study nations without it. Places like China, India, or Iran and countless others have little freedom or justice. Supporting religious liberty demonstrates that we truly love our neighbors!