When Did We Lose Freedom Of Religion And Got Freedom Of Worship

FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR FREEDOM OF 'WORSHIP'?

Exclusive: Joseph Farah sees disturbing implication in phrase now used by DHS JOSEPH FARAH  

Words mean things.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees, among other rights, “freedom of religion.”

It’s an unambiguous phrase.

It means American citizens have an inalienable right to practice their religion without interference from government. It was a bedrock foundation of the War of Independence that led to the formation of these united states.

That’s why it’s a little curious to see another phrase popping up in usage by the U.S. government – most notably in the naturalization test for citizenship.

Question 51 on the study materials for the civics portion of the naturalization exam asks applicants for citizenship to provide two rights guaranteed to everyone living in the U.S. Listed among the possible correct answers is “freedom of worship.”

Is that the same thing as “freedom of religion”?

No, it is most definitely not.

There are many people in our country today who believe religion is nice when confined to the four walls of churches and synagogues – not so much when it spills over into the public square. That’s “freedom of worship.” You can worship anyway you like, but keep it to yourself, don’t let it impact your interaction with the community and the body politick, don’t let it impact decisions involving your relationship to the state, and certainly, don’t let it affect the way you live your life every day.

That’s not “freedom of religion.” That’s somebody’s idea of putting religion in a nice safe box where it can do no harm.

“Freedom of worship” is the kind of euphemism one might expect to be used in the old Soviet Union or in modern China with its state-approved churches or in North Korea where the population is free to worship the god-king Kim Jong-un.

It sounds like a carefully concocted counterfeit phrase to “freedom of religion.”

And what an interesting place to find it – in the official study guide for those seeking citizenship in the U.S. That’s a place where the government should indeed be choosing its wording carefully to ensure immigrants have a thorough understanding of the unique principles upon which America was founded and still operates today.

The founders were very careful to choose those words. Why is the U.S. government using different words, with clearly different meanings and connotations?

Is this a big deal, or am I making a mountain out of a mole hill?

With all of the desperate issues and crises facing America today, this might strike you as small potatoes. And, perhaps, when we see the institution of marriage being destroyed by the U.S. government, it is. Perhaps when we see the U.S. government permitting by neglect or incompetence the hacking of the entire database of federal government employees by a foreign power, it is. Perhaps when we see the U.S. economy teetering on the brink of disaster, it is.

But, when we see Christians being fined, harassed, prosecuted, drummed out of their professions and losing their businesses by merely following the dictates of their religious beliefs, it becomes a very big deal.

“Freedom of religion” is what we protect in America. “Freedom of worship” means don’t you dare step outside the confines of your home or house of worship to live your life as one of religious conviction.

Sometimes little baby steps like this have big consequences. There should be no room for error about America’s commitment to religious freedom as opposed to “freedom to worship.”

If you agree, let the Department of Homeland Security know.

Drop a line to Secretary Jeh Johnson and explain respectfully to him why this change of wording is offensive, wrong, un-Americana and dangerous.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2015/06/freedom-of-religion-or-freedom-of-worship/#GJw0sO20HiYmP6sd.99