Another look at religious freedom

The Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty has but one overriding concern. It seeks to maintain religious liberty for everyone in the U.S. and around the world. In order for religious freedom to work best, it needs to be practiced by all. The BJC publishes its information magazine ten times each year. I read it thoroughly and try to digest what it says.

The May, 2016, edition brings a disturbing report. Religious freedom is deteriorating around the world. The report is based on the annual report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Seven countries have been added to the agency’s list of nations that are significantly abusing religious freedom.

The words “separation of church and state” are shorthand for religious freedom and are used freely in American rhetoric. These words are used many times without precise meaning and need to be revisited over and over. With the growth of religious intolerance, some sort of vigorous review of the relationship of religions and governments is needed. Time is of the essence.

Separation of church and state in the U.S. generally refers to the First Amendment of our U.S. Constitution. Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The political forces behind the adoption of the First Amendment were Baptists of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Virginia. Baptists were a relatively small religious minority that had experienced discrimination at the hands of larger Protestant groups. They sought assurances of legal protection. The Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut wrote a letter to newly elected President Thomas Jefferson.

In his letter of response to the Danbury Association, Jefferson used the words “wall of separation between church and state.” He made it clear that he was referring to the First Amendment. Many people believe Jefferson overstated the intent of the First Amendment when he used the phrase “separation of church and state.” They argue that the First Amendment says that government must stay out of the business of churches but does not say that churches must stay out of the affairs of the state.

The issues involved have been argued in our highest courts many times and will be argued many more times in the future. In our American history Roman Catholics, Latter Day Saints, 7th Day Adventists, Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, non-religious people, Buddhists, Hindus, and many other religious minorities and different religious people have found the freedom to be themselves just as did the Baptists of the 17th century.

So churches, religious organizations and religious people are clearly free from government interference. Does this bar churches and religious organizations from participating fully in affairs of the government?

The Baptist Joint Committee is a good example of a religious organization participating fully in government processes. BJC regularly argues cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and files briefs on important Constitutional issues. The Catholic Church, the Salvation Army and other Church bodies regularly handle government monies to do good for American citizens. Churches build housing and provide health care and educational services that are underwritten by government funds. In the U.S., religious bodies and government agencies are creative partners. The relationships are hardly a wall of separation.

One other important role of religion in America is played by religious bodies. America needs a conscience. Churches make moral input to government. Churches advocate for the poor, the sick, older people, and children. Churches challenge greed, war and poverty.

A wall of separation to keep churches and religious organizations out of the business of government would be a true disaster in American life. Religious freedom is only one side of the coin. To work, religiously free people must also be responsible to be full participants in American life.

Other nations have worked hard at creating workable relationships between churches and religious bodies and government. None have been more successful than the somewhat disjointed system that has been created by Americans. Because of the world glut of refugees, a new challenge has arrived at our door. The challenge is not the number of refugees that want to come to America. America has made room for many refugees in the past. We have struggled, but have dealt with skin color and language. The great challenge today is religion.

Religious freedom cannot be practiced selfishly. Muslims must be granted the same religious freedoms that were granted to Baptists almost 250 years ago in the First Amendment. We need to be the example to the world in religious freedom. Religious discrimination must never be acceptable to Americans.

The End

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer, Alaska. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.