Celebrate Religious Freedom Day Every January 16
Stamp image public domain from Wikimedia Commons
Religious freedom has always been contentious. In every religion there are those who are against it. They believe theirs is the only true religion…
And they seem to feel a divine right to impose that religion on everyone around them.
Luckily those views are generally the minority (although sometimes it may seem otherwise).
Most people will accept that others have the right to a view of religion different from their own. They may not understand the other views. And they may try to change the others’ minds (respectfully, we hope). But they won’t generally try to force their own views on others.
National Religious Freedom Day celebrates the right of each person to practice their own religion without worry of repercussions. Or to practice no religion at all.
We celebrate it on January 16 in honor of the day the Virginia General Assembly adopted Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786.
This document states that “no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship … nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or … otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief;…” It set the groundwork for the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Religious Freedom Day itself hasn’t been around nearly that long, though.
George H.W. Bush proclaimed the day for the first time in 1993. Each year the president issues a new proclamation.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this holiday.
How to Celebrate Religious Freedom Day
Exercise your religious freedom. Respectfully, of course. Go to a service. Reflect on life. Share your beliefs with others … whatever feels right.
Despite the annual presidential proclamations, this seems to be a very little-noticed day. So try to spread the word.
To help, learn more about this unknown day with some of these resources.
- The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s Free to be Faithful campaign offers a variety of documents, including info graphics, a booklet and a webinar.
- The Religious Freedom Day website offers a lot of good information on students’ rights with respect to talking about their faith in school. (Hint: Yes, it’s allowed!).
You might also find this article, about one woman’s search for her religious identity, interesting.
[…] Religious Freedom Day: A day to remember we all have the right to practice the religion we choose, including no religion at all, without the fear of repercussion. […]
[…] Religious Freedom Day: Celebrate your right to practice the religion of your choice. No one—especially not the government—has the right to force you to practice any specific religion. The decision is all yours. […]