An adage warns against discussing religion or politics in polite company. But in a free republic, these subjects are too important to avoid. Our founders understood liberty depends on citizens who can think for themselves, stand by their convictions and hold government accountable. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our republic, and Tennessee must continue to defend it.
Our founders understood this. Thomas Jefferson considered religious freedom so fundamental he chose to highlight his authorship of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on his tombstone, alongside the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the University of Virginia. His presidency did not make the list.
The statute’s opening declaration says, “Almighty God hath created the mind free.” Nothing truly matters in the United States if we don’t subscribe to the truth that God created us in his image, accountable to a higher power. We must never surrender our free minds, consciences and thought processes to preferred causes driven by groupthink.
That is why religious liberty holds such a prominent place in our Constitution. Our founders knew groupthink would devolve into tyranny, fear and a lack of creativity. A free society cannot avoid chaos unless its people remain free to think, believe and act according to their convictions.
Yet the very freedom we enjoy is often taken for granted. Today, 28% of Americans say religion is “not very important” in their lives. People are free to choose their beliefs or to embrace no religion at all. But we should never lose sight of the role religious faith has played in shaping our nation’s character and understanding of moral responsibility.