Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Religious Restrictions- Stand Firm Against It!

RESTRICTION OF RELIGION Religion is a topic that many don’t want to bring up in a social setting. Today, people are told that they MUST be tolerant of Islam, but the same courtesy is not afforded to Christians, in fact, in the last eight years, Christians have had a large target painted on their back. Hillary Clinton has been quoted as saying that deep seated religious beliefs have to be put aside in order for women to have access to reproductive health and services. http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/49375-hillary-clinton-wants-christians-to-give-up-on-bible-beliefs Obama says that government, “can and will force” Christians to act against their faith. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/ One of the original reasons that the New World was settled was to gain religious freedom. The settlers were the original rebels. They wanted to live free and worship as their conscience dictated. Europe was largely Catholic, and Protestants weren’t allowed to worship freely. On October 18, 1685, Louis XIV of France signed the Edict of Fontainebleau, revoking the Edict of Nantes that established legal tolerance of French Protestants of the Reformed Church, known as the Huguenots. http://www.museeprotestant.org/en/notice/the-edict-of-fontainebleau-or-the-revocation-1685/ The Huguenots were inspired to, ”reform” their beliefs by the writings of John Calvin in the 1530’s. The Edict of Nantes was written to calm relations between the Protestant and the Catholic believers during a time of unrest. When Louis XIV took the throne, he made measures to convert Protestants back to the Catholic Church. The Edict of Fontainebleau revoked the previous Edict of Nantes signed by Henry IV and the Edict of Nimes, signed by Louis XIII. The Edict of Fontainebleau allowed for the demolition of Protestant (Reformed) churches, the ban on pastors, offering them in exchange for conversion, life pensions and re-education in the legal field or they would be banished within two weeks or they could chose to hang. The Edict declared the prohibition of any children being baptized or schooled in Protestant faith. Children had to be baptized and schooled in the Catholic faith. Failure to do so would result in men being hung and women would be jailed for noncompliance. The possessions of any member of the Reformed Church who had moved to another country would be seized if they did not return in a period of four months and properly convert. The emigration of any Reformed Church members was prohibited, so if they left, they would do so as criminals and be dealt with as such, if caught. The Edict did allow a “Freedom of Conscience” clause. This “freedom” was not allowed to be exercised as many Protestants were jailed for refusing to convert. In fact, “Draggonades” were an organized group that operated north of the Loire Valley to forcibly convert those who were trying to exercise their “Freedom of Conscience.” The New World offered a haven for the religiously persecuted. Many Huguenots did get away from France and come to the proverbial promised land of the Americas. Charleston, SC was one of the places where a large number of Huguenots settled and built churches and communities. Other than space, there are no new worlds. If the United States of America has its freedoms shut down, especially those of religion, where is the respite and safe place for Christian beliefs? Islam has Sharia Law. By its statutes, it cannot allow any other religion or doctrine to live beside it or coexist in any way. This seventh century doctrine allows for forced conversion or murder of those who remain “infidels”. The Constitution and Bill or Rights and Sharia Law are in no way compatible. If one believes that this is possible, it is a delusion. The most odious part of the call of the administration to abandon Christian beliefs, is the threat of legal action from anyone who dares to criticize Islam. http://www.dailywire.com/news/1593/loretta-lynch-vows-prosecute-those-who-use-anti-james-barrett# Muslims can get laws or practices changed because they are “offended” by these laws or practices. If a Christian belief is allowed to be abolished, offensive or counter to Christian practices, so what? Where is the outrage? Where is the media dribbling spew about how mean and racist everyone MUST be to say anything in personal self-defense? Christian citizens of the United States of America must stand as one to stop this disturbing trend! Our country and freedoms are what is at stake. Once they are lost, the recovery will be harsh or nonexistent.