On December 27, 2014, Frederick Clarkson wrote in his diary about Religious Freedom Day, The Christian Right Does Not Want You To Know About This Day - updated:
What if we seized this day to think dynamically about the religious freedoms we take for granted at our peril; freedom that is in danger of being redefined beyond recognition. What if we decided to seize this day to consider our best values as a nation and advance the cause of equal rights for all?
We would like to do that. Rather than continuing the tradition of ignoring National Religious Freedom Day on January 16, let's make it an event. Let's have so many people writing and talking about this that the mainstream media sit up and take notice. Let's discuss what religious freedom means to each of us. Let's seize this as a day embraced by people of goodwill from all backgrounds and beliefs. Let's dominate the newspapers, the Internet, the airwaves, wherever we can make our presence felt; and let the American people know about this day, its origins, and the real meaning of religious freedom. It's not the freedom to impose your religion on me. Please follow me below the diversity curlicue for more information. The Day is one week from today. Some of us have been thinking about and discussing this since December. This diary is to invite everyone to join in. We also invite you to spread the word to any other groups you think might be interested, which hopefully would be nearly all of them. We will need writers, speakers, recommenders, republishers, tweeters, followers, social media enthusiasts, vloggers, and popcorn poppers. Please consider participating as much as you can. The more, the merrier.
Too often, we hear statements such as, "We should be able to pray in schools" and "America is a Christian nation." So it will probably surprise many people that the President annually proclaims January 16 as National Religious Freedom Day, in commemoration of Virginia's adoption of the Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. The statute was written by Thomas Jefferson and is generally considered a precursor to the First Amendment. Some may be startled to read Jefferson's words:
Whereas, Almighty God hath created the mind free,... That all attempts to influence it... tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness.... That the impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical,... hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world and through all time.... That it tends only to corrupt the principles of that very Religion it is meant to encourage.... And finally, that Truth is great, and will prevail if left to herself.... Be it enacted by General Assembly that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever....
The entire statute can be found here at Wikipedia. You may find other parts inspiring.
True freedom of religion is the guarantee that all are free to follow and practice their faith — or no faith at all — without governmental influence or interference. Dr. King might have said it best, that the church “is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool."
So if you feel inspired, please join us. Please note that we would like to see plenty of writing at Daily Kos, but would also like to see events extend beyond here. I have asked my local newspaper for a slot on January 16 and they have said yes, but I have to have the article turned in by Tuesday, January 13. So if you would like to ask your local newspaper for the same, then you probably want to contact them today through Monday. Of course different papers will have different deadlines, but they will probably be similar. Please comment below if you are participating and particularly if you have found effective entry into other venues where others might do likewise. Let's come together to draw attention to true religious freedom! Thank you, Kossacks! Special thanks to 2thanks, JoanMar, VetGrl, Tortmaster, and elfling for comments and support.