Good. It’s about time. After all, some might see this as having the freedom to worship only “Allah.” You never know. Free of Religion, however, indicates, that yes, it’s the religion that matters, not just the “worship.” This nonsense began because of the politically correct notion that “worship” was more inclusive than the word religion. What matters, of course, is what the Constitution means, not what morally-relative snowflake thinks is important.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decided to change wording in its naturalization test materials to say “freedom of religion” instead of “freedom of worship” in relation to First Amendment rights, a step that Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) had been pushing for since last year.
Lankford initially wrote to DHS in June 2015 pointing out that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) study materials for the naturalization test listed the answer of “freedom of worship” as a “right of everyone living in the United States.”
Lankford wrote that it was his understanding that the term “freedom of worship” has been included in the materials since 2008, when USCIS deemed it “more inclusive” than the word “religion.”
“Not only is ‘freedom of worship’ inconsistent with the text of the Amendment proposed 226 years ago today, saying that ‘freedom of worship’ is more inclusive than ‘freedom of religion’ flies in the face of a pillar upon which our entire nation was founded,” said Lankford in his letter.
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This change is good and necessary, but Tammy hasn’t got quite the right angle on the thing.
The explanation given for the original change is deceptive and misleading:
This isn’t about being inclusive, it’s about pushing religious influence into a box defined by government. Think about it. “Worship” is what you do in church. “Freedom of worship” means the government can’t stop you from going into your church or mosque and praying. “Freedom of religion” acknowledges a broad God-based philosophy that necessarily permeates your life. “Freedom of worship” is confined to the church; “Freedom of religion” affects your every interaction with the world.
Consider, for example, the challenges to the Obamacare mandate regarding abortifacients. If our Constitution precludes the government from infringing upon your freedom of religion, then it’s reasonable for you to challenge that mandate based upon your religious doctrine and conscience. Maybe you won’t win that challenge, but you can see how it’s a fair challenge. On the other hand, freedom of worship gives you no basis to make such challenge. Maybe your religion is violated, and maybe your conscience is violated, but, by golly, nobody has stopped you from worshiping.
See how it works? The clever boys are cutting the floor out from under us in ways that they’re hoping we won’t notice. The assertion of being more “inclusive” was just a diversion.
Once again the wording narrative tricks people into thinking they are free
when they are nothing but. The Soviets used this tactic and worshippers in public
were sent to the Gulag. It’s no accident that Obama uses this rhetoric as he has
hijacked the Bill of Rights from Day 1.
Michael Chertoff was 2008 DHS Secy under Bush. There are some Jews and Christians who believe that religion is confined to church and home with zero public intersection. I can see Chertoff and Bush in that camp. Per wikip., Chertoff believes climate change is a national security issue, globalism is good except it provides cover for terrorists and criminals, and he represents companies that sell full body scanners. Just the type of conservative that Jeb could have brought to Homeland Security. Can you hear us now?
Drip Drip Drip . The Constitutional bedrock of this nation is intentionally being eroded . We the people can no longer live in the innocence of feeling secure is in this . On my state capitol there is a saying . “The Salvation of the State is Watchfullness in the Citizen”. For too long we have left the watchfullness up to those we elect . Now we can no longer rely on them it would seem . Very disheartening.