Rush Limbaugh says that "words mean things" and the words you use say much about your beliefs and future actions. Read on...
The change in language was barely noticeable to the average citizen but political observers are raising red flags at the use of a new term "freedom of worship" by President Obama and Secretary Clinton as a replacement for the term freedom of religion. This shift happened between the President's speech in Cairo where he showcased America's freedom of religion and his appearance in November at a memorial for the victims of Fort Hood, where he specifically used the term "freedom of worship."
From that point on, it has become the term of choice for the president and Clinton.In her article for "First Things" magazine, Ashley Samelson, International Programs Director for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, stated, "To anyone who closely follows prominent discussion of religious freedom in the diplomatic and political arena, this linguistic shift is troubling: "The reason is simple. Any person of faith knows that religious exercise is about a lot more than freedom of worship. It's about the right to dress according to one's religious dictates, to preach openly, to evangelize, to engage in the public square. Everyone knows that religious Jews keep kosher, religious Quakers don't go to war, and religious Muslim women wear headscarves-yet "freedom of worship" would protect none of these acts of faith."
For more about this subtle but scary change, go to Catholic Online
2 comments:
When you think about it, the change in wording could mean some very scary changes in the future. I really put little beyond this man anymore.
The First Amendment reads:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."
Since 'worship' is the verb most directly related to the exercise of religion, it seems to me that "freedom of worship" is actually a reasonable paraphrase of the constitution.
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