What impact did the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom have on the U.S. government?
1 Answer
The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom became an important part First Amendment to the Bill of Rights.
Explanation:
The First Amendment has an establishment clause that states the government can not establish a religion or favor one religion or belief system over another. This idea comes from Thomas Jefferson's writings in The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
The First Amendment also has a Free Exercise Clause that the government may not pass any laws restricting the free exercise of religion on the part of the citizens. This ideas also comes from Thomas Jefferson's writings.
The principles established in the First Amendment thanks to the Virginia Statue of Religious Freedom has protected people of faith from the tyranny of the government for the first two hundred years of America democracy.
Thomas Jefferson wrote" that to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical". This means that the government shall not use public moneys to promote any system of faith or belief. {The establishment clause}
Jefferson goes on to say "all men shall be free to profess by argument to maintain their opinions in matters of religion and that same shall in no wise diminish , enlarge or affect their civil capacities. " This means that people are free to express their beliefs without fear of reprisal or punishment by society or the government.{The Free exercise Clause}
The Separation of Church and State was intended to protect people of faith from the actions of the government, and to prevent people of faith from using the government to promote their faith. Today Political Correctness is a threat to the protections Jefferson indented with the Virginia Stature for Religious Freedom and promised in the First Amendment.
