Category: Religious Freedom
I Don’t Get It. Why Hate On Home Schoolers?
Posted on December 10, 2013 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
It doesn’t make any sense.
I’ve tried to figure out why there is a deliberate persecution of home school families and I cannot figure it out. This persecution is taking place worldwide as governments crack down on home schooling globally. And for other countries it might make perfect sense. But it’s nothing short of baffling to figure out why the American government under Attorney General Eric Holder, presumably with consent from the president, would refuse to admit the right of parents to school their children.
At a time when the American education system is in turmoil; declining global competitiveness, overcrowded classrooms, high dropout rates, moral decline further facilitated by things like Common Core. One would think that our government and education system would welcome parents that want to teach their kids at home.
Is It Important to Keep Christ in Christmas in Public?
Posted on December 9, 2013 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
The two words “in public?” at the end of the headline are critical. Certainly every Christian should endeavor to keep Christ in Christmas in their home privately, and in their church. But what about in public? Is it still important to keep Christ in Christmas in the public sector or is saying “Happy holidays” and calling it a “Holiday Tree’ acceptable?
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has worked tirelessly to ensure the rights of people wanting to celebrate Christmas are protected. Each year people put up trees, nativity scenes, and exchange gifts. And each year special interest groups sue to remove all mentions of God from public sight. Such efforts include threatening schools with lawsuits if they allow any traditional Christmas carols, seeking to remove nativity scenes from public property, and keeping any religious themed floats out of parades.
Much confusion abounds concerning what is legal and what is not for people in public, in the workplace, and in schools regarding celebrating Christmas. ADF made this comment in a recent article:
Atheists Celebrate the “True Meaning of Christmas”
Posted on December 8, 2013 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
A billboard in Manhattan’s Times Square has gone up asking the question “Who needs Christ during Christmas?” The answer, provided by the American Atheists is, “nobody.” Instead, the group shares their list of reasons for the season, which include: family, friends, the Rockettes, and mistletoe. American Atheists president, David Silverman commented:
“This season is a great time of year for a hundred reasons — none of them having to do with religion…This year, start a new tradition: Don’t go to church. You hate it, it’s boring; you probably only go because you feel guilty or obligated. Instead, spend more time with your family and friends — or volunteer. There are better uses of your time and money.”
I’ve previously said I believe it is critical for Christians to keep Christ at the center of Christianity in the face of efforts to secularize our society. This is one more evidence of the need to enjoy the festivities of the holidays while keeping Christ as the central focus and purpose for our celebration.
Watch an animated video of the American Atheists billboard below. If the video doesn’t appear automatically, please refresh your browser. Click here for original article.
A Worthy Proclamation: President Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation
Posted on November 28, 2013 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
On this historic day of thanks we pause for a moment to look back and remember the blessings we have been granted by Almighty God over the past year. It is customary for the sitting president to issue a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, a tradition that has endured for many years.
One of the most memorable proclamations was offered by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Though Thanksgiving had been officially recognized and celebrated before 1863, celebration of the day was dwindling. It was revived in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln once again officially recognized the day and called for all Americans to celebrate on the last Thursday in November.
Lincoln made faith in God a central part of his proclamation in recognizing the providence and provision of Almighty God in the blessings experienced by America. President before and after Lincoln would similarly recognize the central role faith and the providence and provision of God played in American history.
Read the text of Lincolns historic proclamation below:
7 Things You Might Not Have Known About the Pilgrims
Posted on November 27, 2013 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
At Thanksgiving we briefly return our attention to the Pilgrims as we remember the incredible voyage they made to the “new world” in search of religious freedom. As we look back and remember not just the Pilgrims, but what our Founder’s endured to establish and ensure religious freedom in America it is almost surreal to think our greatest battle presently is over religious freedom.
Lest we forget the Pilgrims and their bravery and sacrifice, I want to share a few things you might not have known about that fateful voyage so many years ago.
Breaking: Federal Judge Declares Pastors Housing Allowance Unconstitutional
Posted on November 26, 2013 in Public Policy, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
It’s important to note that the federal judge issued a stay of her ruling until the appeals process plays out. So for now nothing will change and no pastor or church will be affected. However, the efforts to strip this protection for pastors and churches has continued with this latest ruling. Here’s why it’s important:
Robert P. George: What Lincoln Really Said at Gettysburg
Posted on November 22, 2013 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
If you’re not familiar with the writings of Robert P. George, you should be. The brilliant professor of law at Princeton is well respected in most circles for his keen insight into matters of law and public policy. But he is also respected as a man of faith that believes in the conservative, traditional values America was founded upon.
After President Obama removed the words “under God” from his recitation of the Gettysburg address this year an article of Dr. George’s surfaced in which he addressed the issue. Defenders of the president claim that Obama was merely quoting one of the “other copies” of the Gettysburg address in which the words “under God” do not appear. Indeed at least five copies of the address exist and at least two o those copies do not have the words “under God” in them. But this excuse is not acceptable, as Dr. George explains:
“Of course, none of these copies is actually the Gettysburg Address. The Gettysburg Address is the set of words actually spoken by Lincoln at Gettysburg. And, as it happens, we know what those words are. (The Bliss copy nearly perfectly reproduces them.) Three entirely independent reporters, including a reporter for the Associated Press, telegraphed their transcriptions of Lincoln’s remarks to their editors immediately after the president spoke. All three transcriptions include the words “under God,” and no contemporaneous report omits them. There isn’t really room for equivocation or evasion: Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address—one of the founding texts of the American republic—expressly characterizes the United States as a nation under God.” Click here for original article.
The Founders, History, and Public Prayer
Posted on November 21, 2013 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
A case with incredible implications for the religious freedoms of Americans came to the Supreme Court recently. In Town of Greece v. Galloway the high court heard oral arguments as to whether or not a town council has the constitutional right to open with public prayer. This case has been ongoing for many years and finally made it to the Supreme Court on November 6th.
The last time the Supreme Court heard a public prayer case was in 1983 when it ruled in favor of public prayer in the Nebraska legislature in Marsh v. Chambers. The question now is whether or not the court will stay consistent in recognizing the constitutional right for any public assembly or body to open with prayer.
The Practical End to ENDA
Posted on November 20, 2013 in Public Policy, Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
For the time being ENDA appears dead. Even though it passed in the Senate it had no chance of making it through the House where Speaker Boehner opposed it as well as most Republicans; and a few vulnerable Democrats hoping to keep their job in 2014.
In case you don’t know what ENDA is, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act seeks to make it illegal for an employer to hire or fire a person based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
On the surface this might sound like a good idea. After all, no one should be denied a job simple because he is gay. But the problem with ENDA is that it has a back door that would lead to forcing religious organizations and Christian business owners to violate their religious convictions. Here’s how: