Freedom of Religion

For a number of years the atheists, agnostics, skeptics and liberals, led by the ACLU, have flaunted their hatred of the Christian faith under the banner of 'separation of church and state.' Our educational system, particularly, bought it wholeheartedly. All across the country, schools have used that concept to ban the Bible, prayer, or any demonstration of Christian faith, from the school premises. A large percentage of our school systems, apparently, have accepted the claim that religion and education must not touch each other. It is a false and unjustified claim.

Recently, on the editorial page of the Gaston Gazette, the daily newspaper published in Gastonia, NC, there appeared a lengthy editorial titled "On Matters of Religion, School's In.'' There was a reference to the fact that Tuesday, Jan. 16, was Religious Freedom Day, and noted President Bush's proclamation which called on all Americans to "commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities in their schools, place of worship, neighborhoods and homes." The question was then asked, "in their schools?" And the answer was "You heard correctly."

Our U. S. Supreme Court, in 1969, stated that our public school students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." The U. S. Department of Education has stated it clearly for us:

• Students can pray, read their Bible or other religious books and talk about their faith at school during school hours.

• Students can organize prayer groups and religious clubs and announce their meetings.

• Students can express their faith in their class work and homework.

• Teachers can organize prayer groups and Bible studies.

• Students may be able to go off campus to have a Bible study during school hours.

• Students can express their faith at a school event, including graduation ceremonies.

There are several groups that have played, and are playing, a major role in defending our rights to religious freedom, among them the American Center for Law and Justice, Washington, D. C., and the Rutherford Institute, Charlottesville, Va. Christians should support these generously.

Above all, we should let it be known boldly that the constitution of the United States says nothing about the total separation of church and state, but instead, guarantees us wonderful freedom.

[Reprinted from the February 2007 Watchman, M. O. Owens, Jr., editor. You may subscribe to this free newsletter by writing Owens Ministries, Inc.; P.O. Box 2066; Gastonia, NC 28053.]