What does religious freedom mean?

 I want to state that with any of my posts I do research and find reliable sources before I tell you anything.  If I find I was in error or have misinterpreted something I will correct it.  But I encourage you to get involved and do your own research.  Freedom is a difficult thing to hang on to.  Slavery can be deceptively "comfortable" because it seems to require less effort.  The Israelites even whined to return to slavery in Egypt because the freedom thing was too hard. 

As oft stated, our First Amendment ensures freedom of religion not freedom from religion.  The link above takes you to the "Religious Freedom" page I found recently and have started to explore.  In the introduction it says:
"Social contracts, whether they are based on egalitarian principles or tyranny, are arrangements between human beings.  Covenants, on the other hand, are sacred arrangements between God and God's people.  Covenants transcend social contracts and are believed to endure for all time.  The heavy hand of tyrants, as well as ordinary man-made institutions, may deny the promise of a covenant.  That does not alter the Truth that believers share regarding special arrangements with God (which I would state as "God's Promises.)

So, our founders didn't want a King declaring himself divinely appointed to make and alter at will the social contracts that dictated their daily lives, including their religious practices.  So they very clearly laid out that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights.  Rights that come from God, not from the government.  There was still some religious persecution in those early days and we've continued to struggle to find a balance that frees an individual to worship God as he sees fit while ensuring that someone who worships differently is permitted the same freedom.

So, we're allowed to choose a synagogue, a church, a temple or a mosque.  But are we allowed to practice that religion freely?  Well, I guess we can all agree that if my religion tells me to kill everyone with red hair that is not acceptable in our constitutional republic, nor do I think it's acceptable to God, but that's just me :-)

We can also choose to not worship; to not believe in a creator.  We cannot be forced to accept any specific belief system.  Or, can we?

There seem to be two world views at odds today.  One that says there is a transcendent source of right and wrong; what's good for us and what will hurt us and a world view that says there is not a source of guidance and that we need to determine what is good and what is bad as we go along.  The latter world view believes that man is perfectible and that if we have enough knowledge, the right social programs, and the right kind of people running the government all of our problems will be solved.  In today's language this is communicated as "social justice."

Can these two opposing views coexist?  One that says we are flawed human beings and that we look to a transcendent source, God, to give us direction and help us lead good lives.  The other that says that the problems in the world are caused by the restrictions of the "superstitions" of religion and those pesky "right and wrong" rules.

Some time ago I was being berated for being a hate-filled person for stating that I believed same sex marriage was wrong.  I did clarify that I understood some of the issues at hand and that civil unions or whatever gave these couples the rights that married people had was something that I thought should be supported.  We argued back and forth and I finally came to the conclusion that what the other person wanted was for me to say that same-sex marriage was morally OK and that I approved 100%.  It was not enough to agree that the rights be the same.  I had to say I approved and express NO opposition to the practice.  If I did not, I was labeled a homophobe, a bigot, a hater, and who knows what else.

Is this allowing the free practice of my religious beliefs?  I have no right to harass or harm in any way someone who chooses to practice homosexuality.  I DO have the right to believe that it is wrong and to raise my children with this belief.

That religious freedom is under increasingly aggressive attack.  Examples:

Dr. Kenneth Howell at University of Illinois was recently fired for teaching Catholicism in a class; Introduction to Roman Catholicism.  In particular he was explaining the churches views on homosexuality and how those views are developed and stated.  He was fired (although right now the University is saying he has not been fired, so stay tuned.)  I've read the email in question.  Dr. Howell did not storm though the campus thumping a bible screaming that homosexuals are going to hell.  He explained what the teaching of the Roman Catholic church says about homosexuality.  However, all discourse is shut down.  There can be no opposing views expressed even if they are expressed in "academic" terms.

The other example is even more egregious.  Augusta State University student, Jennifer Keeton, has been told that her Christian beliefs are unethical and incompatible with prevailing views in her Counseling program.  The University has ordered her to undergo a "re-education" program that includes diversity and sensitivity training.  If she does not do this; change her beliefs and become re-educated, she will be expelled.

I believe that these cases are an alarming attack on religious freedom.  If you do some research and find out what the ultimate goal of a world view that leads to these types of situations is you will find that it is to replace the God in your life with the "God State."  The government will be the savior.  The government will decide what the "will of the people" is without the voice of the people.  Individual salvation becomes collective salvation.  And, if in the interest of the "general welfare" individual rights disappear, that's just what has to be.  Stalin an Mao killed millions of people guided by a godless world view such as this. Whether you believe in a creator or not, that should still frighten you.

My husband and I have often "joked" about being able to choose our re-education camp location.  It's not sounding much like a joke anymore.  If you think that sounds ridiculous it was a part of the Weather Undergrounds plan in the 60's.  After they collapsed the government people who resisted were to be sent to re-education camps in the South.  Nuts, huh?  Those people are still around and are in powerful positions.  Bill Ayres, Bernadine Dohrn and a newcomer (more radical Communist than socialist) Van Jones.  If you don't know who these people are find out.