#13 The Right to Religious Freedom
Dr. Stephen Phinney: Religious freedom is one of the bedrock doctrines upon which the United States was founded. However, today, it's used as a weapon to penalize those who preach against sin.
Religious freedom is a fundamental principle that protects an individual’s or a nation’s right to live, speak, and act according to their religious beliefs. It covers freedom to worship, practice, freedom from coercion, protection of Christianity and other religions, those without faith, and the national right to practice such beliefs publicly without the interference of governing structures and institutions.
The Power of Religious Freedom in the United States of America as Established by Our Founders.
Religious freedom is one of the bedrock doctrines upon which the United States was founded. From the earliest days of colonization to the present, this cherished liberty has shaped the American experience, fostering what some call A Christian Nation Under God, resilience, and the pursuit of Truth that aligns with In God we Trust. In this essay, I explore the profound impact of religious freedom, examining its historical roots, its role in shaping American identity, and its enduring spiritual significance.
Before launching my essay, I want to affirm my love and devotion to the United States of America and its founding members. I am a direct descendant of two of the signatory members of the May Flower Compact and the Declaration of Independence. For those who know me personally, I’m told if you cut me, I will bleed red, white, and blue. As humorous as this might sound, there is truth in this. It reveals my loyalty to reestablishing the original historic elements of our founding doctrines and faith. Just as I will defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the end, so I will defend our nation’s roots.
Colonial Disputes
America’s journey toward religious freedom began with the struggles of early settlers. The Pilgrims, seeking refuge from religious persecution in England, arrived on the Mayflower in 1620. Their quest for a place to worship freely led to the establishment of Plymouth Colony. Similarly, Pastor/leader Roger Williams, a Puritan dissident, founded Rhode Island in 1636 as a safe place for religious believers. These early colonies laid the groundwork for a supernatural idea: that individuals should be free to practice their faith without fear of governing interference.
John Phinney, Senior was allegedly titled by Williams “the Pilgrim,” signifying a leader who was the first to put his foot upon the newfound land.
Since Phinney’s early days, dissensions, disruptions, and disagreements immediately erupted between the “Pilgrims” and the members of the Masonic Enlightenment members. In an attempt to subdue Williams and his passionate mission to establish a Christianized nation, power players within the Enlightenment movement gave him his own island (Rhode Island) - thinking it would keep him quiet. It did not.
Roger Williams was the actual founder of the modality of America’s Religious Freedom. He instigated a pivotal “rough draft” in American history, left an indelible mark on the landscape of Christian and religious freedom. His journey from England to the New World, his advocacy for blocking governing institutions from religious freedom became paramount, and his establishment of Rhode Island as a safe place for Puritan Christians and for religious minorities all contribute to his enduring legacy.
Pastor Williams not only became the first to learn the languages of the local Indians but also to negotiate friendly agreements between the new settlers and the natives, resulting in America’s first Thanksgiving Day.
With a forthright mission of rejecting governance over Puritanism, he began to change the face of history from his new island, to develop the newfound land’s religious freedom. While being rejected by most new settlers with his anti-establishment ideologies regarding governments managing religious beliefs, he pressed on with his Bible-based religious freedom preachings. Soon, he gained the favor of the masses through the settlers in Plymouth.
It wasn’t long when Rhode Island became known for a safe place for Baptist, Quakers, Jews, and other religious minorities. This infuriated the Enlightenment members. Instead of their plot to keep him quiet, a full-on Christian & Jewish movement began to dominate the culture of their day. Leaving the Enlightenment members with the forced reality that integrative negotiations were the only solution. In fact, much later, Thomas Jefferson, who helped craft the First Amendment, noted his vision evolved from Pastor Roger Williams and his immovable position of the freedom of religion.
The First Amendment
The framers of the U.S. Constitution recognized the importance of Pastor Williams’s religious liberty. In 1791, the First Amendment was adopted as part of the Bill of Rights. It boldly declared the echo of Williams:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
This succinct sentence encapsulated a revolutionary concept that was born through Pastor Williams and his faith in Jesus Christ: the separation of governments managing church beliefs and affairs. Sadly, this ignited the movement of separation of church and state versus keeping Biblical ideologies in place IN government, which is what Williams was suggesting. Thankfully, unlike Europe, where religious exams continue to bar certain individuals from public office, the United States welcomes people of all faiths—or no faith—to serve their country - an ideology Williams advocated.
Shaping American Identity
Religious freedom has evolved, some say devolved, into a competition of sorts as to the most powerful religious lobbying groups win in the end. Much like the crying baby, the loudest gets picked up first. However, for some depraved reason, the original groups from Rhode Island, Christians and Jews, are being silenced.
Today, the mission of Williams is in reverse mode. In the meantime, Catholicism, Islam, Secularism, Hinduism, Buddhism is taking the front seat, while Christianity and Judaism is fading by the day. This proves that the original mission of America no longer embraces a rich acceptance of faith traditions. Our national identity is straying from our founder’s mission and ideology of the vision Christ gave Pastor Willimas to that of coexistence and harmonious respect of all religions, which now excludes the Jews and the Christians. Thus, soon, the First Amendment will devolve into:
Congress shall make laws to manage extreme religious establishments that propagate hate speech determined by Congress and will prohibit their freedoms to exercise thereof.
Do you say that will never happen? I am here to tell you that policies are in motion that will answer that question clearly. Mark my words. In fact, in 2009, President Obama signed a landmark legislation into law. He expanded federal jurisdiction over hate crimes motivated by race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. This single landmark legislation erased our founding father’s purpose of the freedom of religion, converting it into the freedom of some religions. Now, they must decide which religions can remain free and determine what exactly is “hate speech.”
Self-Manufactured Social Movements and Justice
Extreme Religious freedom advocates have fueled social justice movements throughout history. Abolitionists, suffragettes, sexual orientation, gender identity advocates, and civil rights activists—all drew inspiration from their self-justice faith to challenge injustice. Any movement that uses their “faith” to advance “rights” soon ends in a battle our government calls “hate crimes.” Today, beliefs are camouflaged in the word “faith.” Biblically these are two complete separate words, let alone have different meanings. However, we see in our present culture the masses using the freedom of religion to advance their political causes. Now, the line is blurred between belief and faith. Soon, the founding documents will demand to be rewritten. And they will in due time if we don’t stop this downward trend.
In modern times, Religious Freedom has become a false teacher of tolerance. It compels us to listen and adhere to diverse perspectives, to engage in accepting depraved dialogues, and to seek common ground by adopting the depraved behaviors as acceptable. And if we speak out against these behaviors, we are apt to be charged with “hate crimes.”
In a world often divided by deplorable dogma, Lady Liberty might want to cover her eyes. Liberty no longer encourages empathy and understanding. Rather it provides opportunity for degrading behaviors, an acceptance of sins that offend God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Williams, I’m sorry. It appears that the Enlightenment members are winning hands down. I will not step back from the sacrifice you and my grandfathers suffered. I will not retreat! I will not take my foot off its soil until my faithfulness matches yours. I will press on to the mark of excellence our Savior taught us all.
Lights Out
The United States no longer remains a beacon of religious freedom worldwide. Those days are quickly fading. People from every corner of the globe look upon us and frown. It’s no wonder why the Enlightened ones want to open our borders. The hope of the American people is fading quickly; we are at risk. While I fear that our citizens are morphing into despondency, we need a faithful few to shout out their love of God and country. We must do everything possible to save the remaining fragments of our forefather’s founding mission and principles by standing up and making a difference. We all must be willing to go down in a flame of glory - that is, the glory of God.
Religious freedom is at risk today. From debates over religious symbols in public spaces to clashes between individual rights and anti-discrimination laws, the struggle continues. We must remain vigilant, ensuring that this precious liberty endures for generations to come. Every voice makes a difference.
Religious freedom is not a mere legal provision; it is designed to be the heartbeat of America. It empowers us to seek our Lord as Truth, embed our history in today’s actions, worship freely, and build a more just and compassionate society in the God we Trust. As we navigate the complexities of our now divided and diverse nation, let us remember the power of religious freedom that God imparted to a familiar nobody like Pastor Williams—the flame that illuminates our path toward a more perfect union.
Dr. Stephen Phinney
Identity Politics | Co-writer: Judge Mark T. Boonstra
Excellent overview and history lesson! Unfortunately, as you make the case, religious liberty is already degraded, and at risk of being obliterated altogether. May we all be vigilant while we can!