On this day, January 16th, we celebrate a day that lives in obscurity. Mostly. This is unfortunate, because it is a day that ought to be celebrated, certainly by all Americans but especially Democrats, progressives, and anyone who believes strongly in the right of individual conscience, of religious pluralism, and the constitutional doctrine of separation of church and state. If you are any of those, please read on.
January 16th has, by presidential tradition since the Clinton administration been declared Religious Freedom Day. The day commemorates the enactment of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom -- a pioneering piece of legislation drafted by Thomas Jefferson in1777; introduced in 1779, finally passed in 1785 when James Madison was governor and Jefferson was serving as ambassador to France. The Statute was enacted on January 16th, 1786. The following year, Madison traveled to Philadelphia where he served as the principal author of the federal Constitution. And in 1789, as a Member of the First Congress, served as the principal author of the First Amendment.
The bill stated in part:
We the General Assembly of Virginia do enact that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.
“With the 1785 passage of the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom,” eminent historian Frank Lambert wrote in his book, Religion in American Politics, “Madison’s position prevailed in Virginia and became the model for the federal constitution as well: no religious establishment of any kind and freedom of religion as a right that the government cannot abridge.”
Its at once highly appropriate, and unfortunate, that Religious Freedom Day this year happened to fall on Martin Luther King's birthday. While the King holiday got just about all of the attention, the days are linked. The right to believe as we will, to change our minds, even in opposition to the rich and the powerful and to create social change, was a landmark contribution of the Jefferson generation. While they did not end slavery, or bring equality to women or people who did not own property, the right to believe differently set the stage for every advance in human and civil rights we have seen since.
The Jefferson generation would certainly be astounded to see that we now have an African American president and no doubt be deeply pleased to see his statement commemorating their hard work. Here is an excerpt from president Obama's Proclamation:
In 1786, the Virginia General Assembly took a bold step toward preserving this fundamental liberty by passing the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which brought to life the ideal of religious tolerance from the texts of the Enlightenment in the laws of state. On Religious Freedom Day, we celebrate this historic milestone, reflect upon the Statute's declaration that "Almighty God hath created the mind free," and reaffirm that the American people will remain forever unshackled in matters of faith.
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Virginia Statute formed the basis for the First Amendment, which has preserved religious freedom for both believers and non-believers for over 220 years.
As our Nation has grown, so too has its diversity of faiths, cultures, and traditions; today, individuals of rich and varied beliefs call America home and seek to follow their consciences in peace. Our long history of religious tolerance and pluralism has strengthened our country, helped create a vibrant civil society, and remained true to the principles enshrined in our founding documents.
Our Nation is committed to religious liberty not only for all Americans, but also for individuals around the world. Internationally, we bear witness to those who live in fear of violence and discrimination because of their beliefs. My Administration continues to stand with all who are denied the ability to choose, express, or live their faith freely, and we remain dedicated to protecting this universal human right and the vital role it plays in ensuring peace and stability for all nations.
Today, as we reflect on the many ways religious freedom enriches our country and our lives, let us lend our voice to all people striving to exercise their innate right to a free mind.
But even as we celebrate, we still need to be wary. As Christian historical revisionist David Barton and others have shown us, the Religious Right views the narrative of our history differently. They view it as nothing less than an important battle front in the culture wars. They insist that America was founded as a "Christian Nation"; that that heritage has been hijacked; and that this direction from God and legacy of the Founding Fathers must somehow be restored. And so we are engaged in a struggle over the narrative of our own history and the very definition of freedom.
Knowing these things, and being able to tell the story of the nation we aspire be, is an essential skill set for Americans of every generation since Jefferson. We are still learning how to get better at it. The struggle changes, but it never really ends. Ours is a nation, the first in the history of the world, founded on principles of religious equality -- by which we mean the right of individual conscience, religious pluralism, and the separation of church and state. We are still working on making these principles real in the lives of all: Christians and non-Christians; religious and non-religious. We are all in this together.