#372 Religious Liberty: The Cornerstone of a Free Society

Religious freedom is a cherished American principle and a key distinctive of ours on the world stage. But, can we concisely and accurately define it? And what Biblical principles support this free exercise of religion? Further, what is the latest in religious liberty cases? In this episode, I walk through the Biblical origin of this principle, the fascinating history of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the current state of religious freedom, and how and why we should champion this principle in our zip code and for the next generation.

Key takeaways:

• Working definition:  the right to believe and live out one’s deeply held convictions without fear of coercion or mistreatment by the government.
• Pastor John Leland: “…Government should protect every man in thinking and speaking freely, and see that one does not abuse another. The liberty I contend for is more than toleration. The very idea of toleration is despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence above the rest to grant indulgence, whereas all should be equally free, Jews, Turks [Muslims], Pagans and Christians.”
• Current developments in religious liberty cases.
• The 2025 Report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
• A strategy for all Christians to champion religious freedom for the next generation.
• The best way to defend religious freedom is to use it.

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