National Religious Freedom Day- January 16

Religions and religious organizations are responsible for a great many good things done in the world, from founding charities all over the world that care about simple people and inspiring them to be better and better on a daily basis, to caring for people in the community who are in distress. Unfortunately, religious organizations often show loyalty only to their members and try to get others to convert or strengthen their faith and change their secular lifestyle.

The consequences can be severe. In ancient times there were persecutions of the Christians by the Romans, in Spain there was the infamous Inquisition, and in Puritan America the witch hunt took place. Today there is the Islamic Jihad that is responsible for terrorist attacks around the world and in Israel there are endless disputes between religious and secular, between Jews and Muslims and more.

Freedom of religion is the right of everyone to live according to his religion and to have equal protection and rights. Freedom of religion is among the universal human rights recognized in liberal and humanist thought and in the hands of the United Nations.

The history of Freedom of Religious Day

On January 16, 1786, shortly after the founding of the United States of America, the General Assembly of Virginia adopted the Virginia Constitution of the Thomas Jefferson Religious Constitution. This law became the basis for what we know today as the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion to all persons residing in the United States. On that day, the President of the United States issued an official declaration that this day is now freedom of religion.

How to celebrate Religious Freedom Day?

A good way to celebrate Freedom Day is to do some research on what life was like before freedom of religion was enshrined in law. This can be done by reading books or watching movies. "Name Downloaded", the book and film is a great example of describing life during the Inquisition, and about how much the Inquisitors were willing to go looking for and punish people suspected of witchcraft.

Movies and books on the subject of the Holocaust, such as "The Diary of Anne Frank," also point to the Nazi persecution of Jews in Europe.

Salman Rushdie's works are very interesting insights, as the author has received death threats for years, following the publication of his famous book "Satan's Verses", in which he wrote a critique of Islam.

Another idea to celebrate Freedom Day is to meet with friends from other religions and talk about the topic and discuss how freedom of religion allows you to live together in peace without persecuting each other.

Freedom of religion is a wonderful and not a matter of course. For many years it did not exist and should be maintained even today. He deserves a day of appreciation and appreciation.

 

January 16 is also Nothing Day and Appreciate A Dragon Day