Spiritual Freedom in America

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Spiritual Freedom in America

In 1998, a bill was drawn and enacted by President Clinton to guarantee the rights of people in other countries to be free from religious prosecution. Incorporating that fundamental into policies drawn with other countries that their religious beliefs would be recognized and protected in foreign policy.

Yet, here in America lines/divisions are drawn by governments, federal and local, school districts, townships, etc. excluding religious freedom in public gatherings, public grounds, and group gatherings such as in schools. Not only applying this to the Christian faith, but countless other paths of beliefs. Largely the divisions arise between Christian and Non-Christian paths in terms of where legal lines are drawn. We support as a governing body to the world, restrictions and path of belief are to be shown tolerance and respect, yet negate to do the same in our own country.

The differing baseline is not who is being worshiped in many different names, but who is creating the protocol being used for worship. If we are to come together as a nation and people in this world, we also need to come together in a spiritual alliance that shows tolerance and respect at the very least of intentions. To me, tolerance is not acceptance, only compliance. A step towards acceptance and acceptance truly meaning a willingness to learn of the beliefs of another. To shake the hand of another without judgment of how they choose to believe and be open to the thoughts and practice of another chosen path.

Two of the Christian faith in Florida, both educators faces six months of prison time for a prayer. Six months of their life, for the same act we base foreign policy on to defend the right to express. America was founded on the principal of being able to choose what you believe, not how you believe. The latter was reason for the early exodus from Europe.

Two of my own ancestors from Ireland, left under religious persecution. Twin brothers who chose Christianity over Catholicism. Because of their choice in the 1700's, family turned their backs on them, and they took their families to American where they would be free to choose. In addition, went as far as changing their name from McKinley to McKinney to sever ties in a quest they believed in. Are we free? Is a pagan, muslin, or Hindu free to worship as openly as others are? I tried to secure a room at the local library for a weekly gathering of a spiritual group, and was told spirituality was not recognized as a religious practice, so I was not entitled to a room in the library. Spirituality itself is not considered practicing a faith or path. Yet polls have shown it to be one of the fastest growing paths of belief at this time. I am not entitled to use a public facility to practice my faith, saying a prayer with consent in a school is punishable by prison. Putting a Wiccan marker on a grave in a public resting place has caused legal contention, all in our country that has defined a doctrine of "Freedom from Religious Prosecution" for other countries.

When will Americans be afforded the same freedom? The constitution stated we are, but for who? My hopes are that at some point, if government needs to create the change, then we need a Spiritual bill of rights, made simply to allow each and every person in this country their path of belief, and to recognize another as their path without judgment. A first step to a more peaceful world.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/17/florida.school.prayer/index.html

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