Why Protect Religious Freedom if We Don’t Value Religion?
Alliance Defense Fund fellow Garrett Gibson poses an interesting question on the American paradigm of defending freedom:
There is an oft-repeated American cliche that freedom is not free. Below the surface of this cliche lies three implications: first, that we value freedom; second, that we are willing to pay the price demanded for the protection of freedom; and third, and most pertinent to this discussion, that we protect, with the force of law, the things we value.
Gibson notes the potential cultural implications of society’s move away from recognizing, and valuing, the virtues of religion:
While intuitive, the third implication gives us a glimpse of a startling future when applied to religious freedom. If it’s true that we protect the things we value, and that we won’t protect things we don’t value, won’t religious freedom, the protection of religion, exist only so long as we value religion?
In other words, when society stops valuing religion, what motivation is there for society to protect religious freedom?
Read more at SpeakUpMovement.org.
Empathy. The fact that I do not value religion does not mean that I am unaware that other people value it.
I believe its more basic then that…we are ultimately protecting the right to choose; and that includes choosing religious freedom as a value. Our collective values are what make us who we are. Our Constitution states we have freedom of religion so we ARE motivated to protect this right, just like freedom of speech, freedom to live where we want, freedom to vote, freedom to marry…you get the idea.
I cannot speak intelligently to the values and virtues of religion, but they are part of America no matter what and probably will be for a long time to come. The force of law will be needed until the Neanderthals on both side of what religious freedom is in America get over themselves and the petty differences they can’t seem to get past.
Bottom line: Don’t force religion on anyone but tell them if they ask = parents can surely instruct their children the state MUST NEVER! Yes, this means we are still protecting the right to choose, our Constitutional right to do so, and defend it with all our might.
Not to get on a soap box, but a quick note about instructing the children on religion. I gave my younger children a chance to choose by sending them to Sunday school. I told my wife that when they come to me and told me they did not want to go anymore and they had a good reason then I will no longer take them. My oldest was 8 and his brother was 7 and there reason was: All we do is sit and listen to people reading out of a book and it doesn’t make any sense. If 7 & 8 years olds don’t understand then why are we trying to indoctrinate them until they can understand? Don’t assume they’re just kids wanting to go outside and play either, they had plenty of chores to do to include shoveling horse poop and snow. No that was no fun either, but it was “their” choice.