America’s Tribute to Religious Freedom
As part of a special feature on America’s 250th commemoration, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) shared his thoughts on the significance of religious freedom in a video for Breitbart News.
“When I reflect on America, which marks its 250th birthday, I can’t help but think about the strong religious convictions and remarkable bravery that shaped this nation from the outset,” he mentioned. “It’s a frequent observation that America didn’t originate the concept of religious freedom—this is completely accurate. Rather, it was religious freedom that brought America into existence.”
“At the core of our country and our Constitution lies the right of conscience and the freedom of religious expression—the ability to worship according to one’s beliefs,” he continued. “This principle is fundamentally who we are as a people. It’s the basis for our rights to associate freely, to express ourselves in the press, and to gather peacefully. Everything stems from the right to worship God, which was foundational to the nation’s creation.”
Indeed, the essence of religious freedom has been part of American history since 1620, when the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
More than a century and a half after the Pilgrims’ arrival, the Declaration of Independence, which reaches its 250th anniversary on July 4, explicitly stated that the Creator granted all individuals “certain unalienable rights,” including “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Furthermore, the Bill of Rights, ratified over a decade later, assured religious freedom through the First Amendment.
In his video, Hawley emphasized the need to restore God’s place in public life, highlighting that progressive movements have consistently challenged religious freedom in recent years.
“Unfortunately, we’ve witnessed a long-standing effort by the left to erase this crucial aspect of our heritage, suggesting that America is solely secular and has no ties to religious faith—that faith is somehow a danger to our way of life. But contrary to that, religious faith is the bedrock of the American way of life,” he asserted. “It’s essential for our rights as individuals, and it’s high time we reclaim that legacy. We must prioritize our religious beliefs and reestablish God at the heart of our public life.”
“We should advocate for believers’ rights to pray in public spaces, to pray in classrooms, and to display the Ten Commandments in educational institutions and public facilities. Why? Because that’s our heritage—it’s what we were built on, what distinguishes us as a nation, and, importantly, it safeguards our most valued rights,” he added. “Religious freedom is what shaped America, and it will be pivotal in preserving our strength for the next 250 years. I am eager to champion this cause.”
