Our Freedoms

It clearly appears that in the United States we are rapidly losing the religious freedoms we have held for over two hundred years.  The first amendment, which protects free speech and freedom of religion, clearly stated that “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” which is pretty plain and clear to me.  Now the government is insisting that religion not intrude into “daily life” in any way and must literally be confined to within the walls of a church.  This doesn’t just affect the work and beliefs of religious relief and assistance organizations and religious schools.

For example, Hobby Lobby doesn’t want to provide health benefits that involve abortion as a result of the owner’s religious beliefs.  A judge doesn’t want to perform a gay marriage because of his beliefs.  A company doesn’t want to perform sex change operations, but is required to under the laws of the states of California and Oregon.  All of these fall within the “free exercise thereof” portion of the First Amendment.  Even the nonsense about putting up Christmas trees in front of your government offices or in a city park is covered by this phrase.  And yet our governments are persecuting these people for doing what the first amendment demands and guarantees they be allowed to do. 

I find it funny that we have a government that persecutes religions that believe in having multiple wives, but demands that we allow gay marriage.  I’m not advocating either, but both, no matter what you believe in your faith walk, are elements of the free exercise of religion.  If the government is going to intrude into the ways we express our faith, then WE need to repeal or modify the First Amendment to the constitution. 

Just as a point of information, the guarantee of “free speech” is contained in that same First Amendment.  If they can ignore the free exercise of religion, they can ignore free speech, too, someday.