Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

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The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was written in 1779 by Thomas Jefferson. The 793-word statute is divided into three sections.

In Section 1, Jefferson argues that the concept of compulsory religion is wrong for the following reasons:

• The imposition of anything on a human mind, which God made to be free, is hypocritical and wrong.
• "Almighty God" never coerced anyone to follow him, and the imposition of a religion by government officials is impious.
• The coercion of a person to make contributions -- especially monetary -- to a religion he doesn't support is tyrannical and creates favoritism among ministers.
• Government involvement in religious matters tends to end in the restraint of religion.
• Civil rights do not depend on religious beliefs, and what a person thinks is no business of the government's.

Section 2 (which remains part of Virginia law, in Article 1, Section 16 of the Constitution of Virginia) declares that:

"...no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities."

Section 3 declares "...that the rights hereby asserted are of the natural rights of mankind, and that if any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the present or to narrow its operation, such act will be an infringement of natural right."

The bill was made law on January 16, 1786. Jefferson, proud of this achievement, had it listed on his epitaph along with his founding of the University of Virginia and the writing of the United States Declaration of Independence.

[edit] See also

• First Freedom Center
• National Religious Freedom Day