July 4, 2012 - Indivisible Day in Minnesota

While he was governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura declared July 4 to be Indivisible Day—a day celebrating the separation of church and state.

Ventura pointed out the importance of this separation by quoting “founding father” James Madison, who wrote, “The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the endless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe in blood for centuries.” Madison was right—there have been countless wars in Europe over which religion is the “right” one, and millions of people have died over religious differences.

Thanks to Madison, Jefferson, and other founders, the U.S. Constitution specifically states that the government shall not establish a state religion, nor make laws that favor a particular religion. Instead, the Constitution insists that the American people are free to worship any religion (or no religion) they choose.

Ventura called the day “Indivisible Day” to urge people to provide mutual respect and equal protection for all, including people of different religions. He said such equality was crucial if America were to remain “one nation, indivisible.”

(Of course, Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, is also celebrated in Minnesota today!)

May 26, 2012 - “Catholics May Not Enter!”

Anniversary of an Awful Law – 1647

“You guys can't be here,” the Massachusetts lawmakers said to Jesuit (Catholic) priests on this date in 1647. “So leave. And if you come back, we're going to kill you!”

Of course, the new Massachusetts law didn't say those exact words (and also featured ye olde fashioned spellings), but that was the gist of the law. We in the United States have enjoyed freedom of religion for so long that we sometimes forget why our nation's founders wrote the First Amendment in the first place. But before our U.S. Constitution, the norm was for each government to dictate the religion of that nation. If you weren't the “right” religion, you were considered a sinner, religiously speaking, but you were often considered a second-class citizen, too. Or you were killed or ejected, beat up or rejected.

So today is a very good day to be thankful for the separation of church and state. The U.S. Constitution states that the government cannot establish a national religion, cannot institute a religious test before granting citizenship or voting rights, and cannot show preference for one religion over another.

And that's a very, very good thing. Just ask those priests!

Learn more...

Here is a rather advanced treatment or “lesson” on freedom of religion, meant for high school age or older.  And here is a quiz on the same subject, again for advanced or older students. 

Teaching Tolerance has some good discussion questions. 

Also on this date:

Sorry Day in Australia 

Astronaut Sally Ride's birthday 

November 26, 2011 - Holiday for Baha'i Faith and Islam and Church/State Separation Week!

Today is...

Day of the Covenant in the Baha'i Faith

Baha'i temples and
the Shrine of the Bab

On this day, Baha'i celebrate the appointment of Abdu'l-Baha as the second leader of the Baha'i Faith, after the death of founder Baha'u'llah. The Baha'i Faith was founded in the 1800s in Persia—the land that is now Iran. It teaches that there is only one god and that the founders of many different faiths—such as Abraham, the Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed—all speak about the same god and have truths to offer. The most recent special messengers from god, according to the Baha'i faith, are the Bab and Baha'u'llah.

Today is also...

Islamic New Year (Al Hijra)

A Muslim mosque

From sunset yesterday to sunset today, it is the first day of the first month – Muharram – on the Islamic calendar. On this day in 622 C.E. (Islamic Year 1), Mohammed moved from Mecca to Medina. This is a low-key holiday, but many Muslims make “New Year Resolutions.”

Also, it is...

Church and State Separation Week 

In the United States, the First Amendment of the Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...” What that means is that there cannot be one religion picked out by the government as the “right” religion, and given special privileges. The government can't make us all join a particular religion, of course, nor can it make us attend church services or celebrate religious holidays. People of all religions and people of no religion have equal status under the law.

This is one of the really good ideas the American “founding fathers” came up with. It protects religious people and non-religious people, people in a majority religion as well as people in a minority religion, religion and government. Nations such as Australia and Brazil have instituted similar language in their constitutions.