America Marks Religious Freedom Day

The United States commemorates on Wednesday the freedom of worship among its citizens, marking Religious Freedom Day.

President Bush issued a proclamation calling "on all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this freedom for future generations, and commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities."

The day celebrates the 1786 landmark passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which acknowledged that the human mind was made by God to be free and men should have the conscience to practice the faith of their choosing.

In addition to the President's proclamation, the Department of Education is sending guidelines to schools, urging administrators to commemorate the day.

Eric Buehrer, president of Gateways to Better Education, said that while some schools keep quiet on the day because they feel they are guarding the First Amendment, they are actually restricting free speech.

"The guidelines are really clear," Buehrer told The Christian Post. "It's really a matter of free speech. Students have the right to speak to whomever they want to, including their maker, and about whatever they want to, including their faith."

His group founded religiousfreedomday.com as a way to inform educators, parents, and citizens about ways they can observe the day.

Buehrer added that Jan. 16 was not intended to be celebrated as "religious diversity day."

"Schools shy away from this because they think that to celebrate Religious Freedom Day they have to include all the religions and religious leaders of community," he said.

But all it takes is five minutes, said Buehrer, noting that it's constitutional for teachers to mark the day with a civics lesson or by asking students to write a short essay on their religious liberties as a way to inform them of their civil right to express whatever faith they have.

Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the legislation along with George Mason, considered it one of the three greatest accomplishments of his life, along with the writing of the United States Declaration of Independence and the founding of the University of Virginia.

At the time, the Church of England was the official religion in Virginia. Jefferson's statute stopped the practice of taxing people in Virginia to pay for the support of the local clergy, and it protected the civil rights of people to express their religious beliefs without suffering discrimination.

He said the freedom to worship was "a liberty deemed in other countries incompatible with good government, and yet proved by our experience to be its best support."

The statute eventually became the basis of the First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution which prohibits the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof.

On Wednesday night, the Council for America's First Freedom, which promotes religious liberty worldwide based upon Jefferson's papers, will be presenting the 2008 National First Freedom Award to three recipients for advancing religious liberty in the United States.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.