Religious Freedom Day

It is rare enough that we Americans pause to reflect upon our history of religious freedom, which is odd because it is one of the very few civil liberties which we may rightly claim to have pioneered in both theory and practice. It is rarer still that we officially acknowledge that religious freedom applies not merely to religious people, but also to those who hope to be free of religion altogether. Today, however, it seems that we can do both, according to this proclamation from the White House (click to enlarge).





Original source file [PDF]

Note that "the Virginia Statute formed the basis for the First Amendment, which has preserved religious freedom for both believers and non-believers for over 220 years." Lest anyone assume that this is a 21st century gloss on an 18th century statute, we have Jefferson's own words on the subject, from his autobiography. While discussing the passage of the statute, the Assmbly considered an Amendment which might have limited the import of the law to toleration between denominations within Christianity:

Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting 'Jesus Christ,' so that it would read 'A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;' the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination. [Source]

Accordingly, to the faithful of all denominations, and to the infidels of them all, we wish you a very happy 'Religious Freedom Day' for 2012. May you enjoy freedom of conscience all throughout the year!