It was in this atmosphere that the concept of 'Freedom of Conscience' gained traction. Martin Luther illustrated it early on with his 'Here I stand' reply at the Diet of Worms, after his famous 95 theses were tacked to the door.
Since your majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason--I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for they have contradicted each other--my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me. Amen. ~Martin Luther
This became a constant theme, during the reformation, & continued into the Enlightenment. John Locke wrote volumes on the subject of toleration, which were foundational for Thomas Jefferson's views where he preferred the usage of 'Religious Freedom' to mere toleration.
“No peace and security among mankind—let alone common friendship—can ever exist as long as people think that governments get their authority from God and that religion is to be propagated by force of arms.” ~John Locke
“Nay, if we may openly speak the truth, and as becomes one man to another, neither Pagan nor Mahometan, nor Jew, ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the commonwealth because of his religion.” ~John Locke
Laws & acts of 'toleration' were passed (& repealed), by whimsical kings. It was not until the American Experiment that the concept of 'Unalienable Rights' were codified into governing Law. These were no longer concessions from a benevolent ruler, granting special privilege to the people, but inherent rights, given by God or nature.
Our rulers can have authority over our natural rights only as we have submitted to them. The rights of conscience we never submitted, we could not submit. We are answerable for them to our God. The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. ~Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson was a great champion for Religious Freedom. Some of the founders wished to follow the path of the euro monarchies, & proposed a hobbesian style conformity to promote national unity. But Freedom was the call of the hour, & the Freedom of Conscience kept its place in the first Amendment of the constitution.
1st Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
There are 2 basic parts of the 'Religious Freedom' part in the 1st amendment.
- Establishment clause.
- Free exercise clause.
This is what is widely known as 'separation of church & state'. Much more can be said, & has been said, about this concept, but it is not my intent to elaborate on that, here. Further discussion can be made on that if there is interest.
Freedom of conscience, or religious freedom is a fairly new concept, in the history of man. And, like most of the freedoms promoted during the enlightenment, it is in danger of being swept aside, for the more serviceable & effective system of mandated conformity. Freedom requires an enlightened citizenry. Despotism prefers subservience. The concepts of freedom from the enlightenment & the reformation are being dismissed & ignored, in favor of marxist & darwinist values of elitism, mandated conformity, & control. Life, Liberty, Conscience, & Property, the Great Freedoms provided by the enlightenment, & codified into Law in the American Experiment, are being ignored in favor of expediency, redistribution, conformity, & other progressive values that are contrary to the enlightenment principles, but find their roots in marxist/darwinist ideology.
The Religion being 'established' now is the belief in Naturalism, & Universal Descent. It has become the only belief that is taught in public schools. It is 'established' by national parks, public television & radio, all of govt, & academia. The religious powers that promote this belief also ban or censor any expressions or 'free exercise' of anything contrary to the official State Belief.
The irony is, that it was Christianity, in its purest form, that brought the concepts of Natural Law, freedom of Conscience, & the rest of the enlightenment principles that Western Civilization was built upon. And now, the very source of the Freedoms we have enjoyed is vilified, ridiculed, & attacked. Hiding behind orwellian redefinitions, the new High Priests of Atheistic Naturalism smugly 'establish' their own beliefs, while censuring & banning any others, especially Christianity, which they rightly see as an enemy of their world view.
