Jan. 16 is Religious Freedom Day. As American holidays go, this one tends to be overlooked. It's not even listed on my desk calendar.
That's a shame, because Religious Freedom Day commemorates an important event: passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This landmark legislation, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and maneuvered through the Virginia legislature by James Madison, became law on Jan. 16, 1786. Scholars consider it a precursor to the First Amendment and vital step along the way to securing the separation of church and state.
Unfortunately, Gateways to Better Education and the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) are trying to co-opt Religious Freedom Day. Read the article to learn more.
