Freedom from Religion?

As we approach Independence Day, I'm confused about a group known as the Freedom from Religion Foundation. It promotes non-religion—that is, the right not to believe in God. I guess I'm confused because the right not to believe is a belief! This group believes there is not a supreme being.

But the Freedom from Religion Foundation does not call atheism a religion because then the foundation would have to free itself from itself. However, atheism is a belief system. Atheism purports to answer the questions: where did I come from? (a one-celled amoeba) What's wrong with the world? (religion) What's the meaning of life? (leave it better than it was) Where do I go when I die? (nowhere) It fails to answer what "better" would look like because, of course, truth to them is relative. But I digress. For a fuller treatment of this subject, read chapter 6 of my book, When Christ Sets You Free.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation actively seeks to eliminate religion from secular society—schools, the airways, the halls of Congress and state legislatures, and the military, to name a few. Its lawyers sue to stop public prayers and other displays of religion, such as manger scenes on public lawns. Of course, it also wants to express freely its right to win converts to its position, or-er-belief in nonbelief.

If the U.S. were "free" from religion, we would then only be "free" to practice non-religion. We would have to live as though we were not religious—except in our churches, synagogues, and mosques.

I think I've just described Communist Russia, where the religious were only allowed to practice their faiths in a few state-sanctioned churches—churches that abided by the rules imposed on them. This is still the case in Communist China.

This way of life is not appreciably different from the many countries that allow only one state-sanctioned religion. For example, you are only "free" to be a Muslim.

I'm beginning to wonder if freedom from religion isn't religious oppression. Methinks this Independence Day, I'm going to thank God for freedom to worship in America. I may not have many more opportunities.