Freedom of Religion is not always what we think it is. It is, and has been for centuries, the freedom to believe according to the dictates of our conscience. It means we are free to believe, or not to believe, what our conscience will allow. Historically that is based upon the Judeo-Christian World View that dictates as John Leland so articulately stated:
“Every man must give an account of himself to God, and therefore every man ought to be at liberty to serve God in that way that he can best reconcile it to his conscience. If government can answer for individuals at the day of judgment, let men be controlled by it in religious matters; otherwise let men be free.” ~ Right of Conscience Inalienable, 1791
Because God created man in his image we are created with free will. The freedom to believe and not to believe was a gift that God has given us. God doesn’t strike us dead the moment we choose to believe something he does not approve of. Freedom of Conscience means that government should never exercise a power greater that God exercises for himself.
In 1100 King Henry I declared:
“Know that by the mercy of God and the common counsel of the barons of the whole kingdom of England I have been crowned king of said kingdom; and because the kingdom had been oppressed by unjust exactions, I, through fear of God and the love which I have toward you all, in the first place make the holy church of God free…”
Ever since 1100 it has been determined that if the government can dictate the conscience of man you have an evil and oppressive government.
Government mandating beliefs by force of law was so offensive to the founders of our Constitutional Republic, that it almost prevented the formation of the union in 1787.
How have we digressed so far in less than 300 years? There is an all out attack on Religious Liberty and Liberty of the Conscience. It is time we figure out who the enemy is and start standing against this attempt to dictate conscience by law.
If the audio player does not load then click HERE.
KrisAnne Hall is an attorney and former prosecutor, fired after teaching the Constitution to TEA Party groups – she would not sacrifice liberty for a paycheck. She is a disabled veteran of the US Army, a Russian linguist, a mother, a pastor’s wife and a patriot. She now travels the country and teaches the Constitution and the history that gave us our founding documents. KrisAnne Hall does not just teach the Constitution, she lays the foundations that show how reliable and relevant our founding documents are today. She presents the “genealogy” of the Constitution – the 700 year history and five foundational documents that are the very Roots of American Liberty.