What Is Religious Freedom in America...Really?

Well before the end of 2019 I received a large 8x11 flyer in the mail. When opened to its full size it showed a 2020 Congressional candidate’s face filling the page, hands together on a table and eyes closed in deep, contemplative prayer…nicely backlit. Next to her, appallingly, was her adorable daughter, maybe 4 or 5 years old, in an identical pose.

This was a political flyer, of course. The copy throughout contained a single message. The candidate, Tina Ramirez, was seeking political office to primarily protect my “religious freedom”. I’m uncertain as to what her daughter was there for. My guess it was for the treat she’d receive after the photo shoot.

Most of the copy in the flyer focused on the claimed efforts Ms. Ramirez has made regarding the violation of religious freedom internationally through organizational affiliations or employment. Religious conflict and discrimination in various countries around the world, while often tragic, is not an eye opener. However, at the top of her brief resume on international religious freedom were in big, bold, and red letters: FIGHTING FOR OUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.  

“Our” religious freedom? Just what is being sold…and to whom?

When I tried to research what religious freedom in America means to a self-described “Christian Conservative” like Tina, I found it frustrating. I wanted either a definition or some description of the violations to religious freedom that needed thwarting.  What I found instead was constant references to just how important religious freedom was. I mean…religion…freedom…need they say more? I guess not. It’s like fighting for MOM and DAD.  No point wallowing in the detail.

For example, the respected opus magnum of Conservative literary thought, The Heritage Foundation, waxes on about how religious freedom is “one of the most pressing issues in America today”. They also say it has nothing to do with…well…religion. Like other proponents of religious freedom they point out the obvious ability to worship your faith in America is not inhibited in any way.

What they claim is that certain laws can conflict with certain ethics that are part of one’s religious faith. Interestingly, they include agnostics and atheists in this conflict, so you’re left with wondering what religion has to do with it at all.

So I go looking for examples of how the oversight of society (i.e., governmental laws) has violated the ethics of Christian Conservatives so as to make them have to behave in a way that violates their faith.  I look and I look and I look. I find a handful of references to restricting Christian scripture on governmental property or public schools, or “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays”, but it is hard to see how such issues restrict a Christian to “live their faith” independently. I could really only find one reference which made that claim and it revolved around homosexuality.

It seems that as sexual orientation has become a protected class (in order to stop the associated discrimination) it has butted up against Christian sensibilities. It actually appears that, figuratively, the whole defense of religious freedom in America focuses on wedding cakes for gay marriages. The implied argument is that this ominous hook, forcing Christian Conservative bakers to sell cakes to gay couples getting married, is the slippery slope to religious oppression. Thank goodness we have Tina Ramirez fighting to make this not happen.

Here’s the reality. We live in a marvelously free country that is constantly fending off special interests trying to undermine that freedom. Tina Ramirez may not want to protect religious freedom at all. It can’t be just about cakes and gay weddings. What is certain is that Ms. Ramirez wants to be elected to Congress and she is willing and enthusiastic about using faith and fear to garner votes, and she is flat out not interested in non-Christian support.

We have religious freedom in America because our Government is secular. Our Constitution is just words on paper. What gives it strength is a strong and independent Judiciary and the blanket willingness of the electorate to accept the conclusions of that Judiciary.

If Ramirez were elected to Congress I am lost as to what Tina would do to promote religious freedom. If her efforts, in some vague and ethereal way, would be to bring more Christian ethics to Government, especially by seating bias judges, then the word “freedom” shouldn’t be part of her handle.

However, I’m cynical enough to believe that “religious freedom”, like abortion, immigration, and health care, e.g. are just marketing tools. Once a Congresswoman she would join the rest of her Party to fight against the great unwashed, the fake free-press, and the looming Deep State…primarily by cutting taxes for the wealthy.