National Religious Freedom Day ― Date, History, and Details
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History of National Religious Freedom Day and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
National Religious Freedom Day is a day commemorating the adoption of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. The statute was authored by Thomas Jefferson and guarantees that all people in the United States are free to practice the religion of their choice without government interference or discrimination.
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was a response to the established religion of the colony of Virginia, the Church of England. At the time, the Church of England was the only legal religion in Virginia and all citizens were required to pay taxes to support it, regardless of their personal beliefs. Jefferson believed that this was a violation of the natural rights of man and that the government should not be involved in religious matters.
Jefferson’s statute was met with opposition from many of his fellow Virginians, who argued that the separation of church and state would lead to moral degeneracy and chaos. However, Jefferson’s belief in religious freedom prevailed and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was enacted into law.
Since its passage, the statute has served as an important precedent for the protection of religious freedom in the United States. In honor of Jefferson’s contribution to the cause of religious liberty, National Religious Freedom Day is celebrated each year on January 16th.