Podcasts about free exercise

For most of the second half of 20th century, the Supreme Court has wrestled with finding a balance between the Free Exercise of religion and the Establishment Clause, offering several tests to test the limits of permissible accommodation without the undue appearance of government endorsement. Among those tests has been a little-thing called the “play in the joints,” famously introduced in Walz v. Tax Commissioner of New York (1970). In this episode, I explore this concept with Falco Anthony Muscante II, whose paper in the Ave Marie Law Review is called “Play in the Joints” Among the Religion Clauses: Rebuilding the Strong Joints the Framers Formed. In our conversation, we discuss the history of the religious clause and what the framers intended, how the concept emerged and became weaponized in Locke v. Davey (2003), why the Court has latched on to the idea of state neutrality and how that impacts religion, and more. Falco Anthony Muscante II earned his J.D. in 2023 from the Duquesne University School of Law, where he served on the executive boards for the Law Review and Appellate Moot Court Board. He is an alumnus of Grove City College, where he graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. Management, minor in Pre-Law, and concentration in Human Resources. Falco is a litigation associate at a big law firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, soon headed to clerk for the Third Circuit. Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento

The Dean's List with Host Dean Bowen – The Supreme Court examines whether St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School can retain its charter amid disputes over the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. With arguments over religious expression in public education and accusations of bias, the ruling could potentially reshape First Amendment enforcement and address internal constitutional conflicts.

On April 30, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, which examines the constitutionality of religious charter schools. In this episode, Michael McConnell of Stanford Law School and Steven Green of Willamette University join Jeffrey Rosen to recap the oral arguments, debate the meaning and history of the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses, and survey the Court's other religion cases from this term.  Resources:  Fulton v. City of Philadelphia (2021) Carson v. Makin (2022) Michael McConnell and Nathan S. Chapman, Agreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of Conscience (2023) Steven Green et al. Brief of Historians and Legal Scholars as Amici Curiae In Support of Respondent, Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond   Michael McConnell et al. Brief for Amici Curiae Religious Liberty Scholars In Support of Petitioners, Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission  Michael McConnell et al. Brief for Professors Douglas Laycock, Richard W. Garnett, Thomas C. Berg, Michael W. McConnell, and David M. Smolin as Amici Curiae In Support of Petitioners, Mahmoud v. Taylor  Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr. ⁠Sign up⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate. Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen. Join us for an upcoming ⁠live program⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠YouTube⁠. Support our important work. ⁠Donate

Easter is the perfect time for Christians to reflect on the providence of God in constituting our nation in such a way that a great gospel doctrine was placed in the Constitution's Free Exercise Clause. In the minds of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson it resolved a gospel debate that can be raced back to 16th century English theologian, William PerkinsSupport the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SCOTUS will soon hear oral arguments in a case brought by parents challenging a Maryland law that requires elementary school children to "participate in instruction on gender and sexuality against their parents' religious convictions and with-out notice or opportunity to opt out." The argument for the law's unconstitutioinality is grounded in the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause. Today, David explains why that clause is used when its original purpose has nothing to do with cases of this kind.

SCOTUS will soon hear oral arguments in a case brought by parents challenging a Maryland law that requires elementary school children to "participate in instruction on gender and sexuality against their parents' religious convictions and with-out notice or opportunity to opt out." The argument for the law's unconstitutioinality is grounded in the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause. Today, David explains why that clause is used when its original purpose has nothing to do with cases of this kind.

In this episode, we welcome Joe Kennedy to the show. He used to be an assistant football coach at a public high school in Bremerton, Washington. After games, he would pray at the 50-yard line by himself. When some coaches and players noticed him doing that, some of them decided to join him at the 50 in prayer after the games. The members of his school board said that they were worried that it would violate the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution, and they tried to force Coach Kennedy to stop praying. He refused. The school responded by not renewing his coaching contract (essentially firing him). He, rightfully, sued the school board, and that fight made its way all the way to the Supreme Court in 2022, where the court ruled in favor of Kennedy, voting 6-3, that the government cannot suppress an individual's expression of religious observance, and if they do so then they are violating the rights to Free Exercise and Free Speech. The 2024 major motion picture “Average Joe” was made about Coach Kennedy and his struggle for religious liberty. In this interview, we discuss all of that in detail and much more. Let's get into it…  Episode notes and links HERE. Donate to support our mission of equipping men to push back darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christianity as Ethnicity Part 2, with special application to the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the US Constitution, and commentary on the definition of marriage according to California in the issue of Prop 3 as it was debated in the California Legislature in 2023. Warmly, Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D. The Republican Professor Podcast The Republican Professor Newsletter on Substack https://therepublicanprofessor.substack.com/ https://www.therepublicanprofessor.com/podcast/ https://www.therepublicanprofessor.com/articles/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRepublicanProfessor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRepublicanProfessor Twitter: @RepublicanProf Instagram: @the_republican_professor

JWI Affiliated Scholar & Professor of Philosophy Frank Beckwith confronts a troubling trend among some legal scholars who, in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, have constructed and advocated for a right to abortion rooted in religious liberty. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Casey in Dobbs, an increasing number of scholars argue that the Constitution may still vindicate the right to abortion, but through the First Amendment's two religion clauses. They argue that state laws that limit access to abortion on the grounds that the fetus is a person or that prenatal life is sacred violate the Establishment Clause, since such laws are based on a contested religious view of what constitutes “personhood.” They also argue that prolife laws violate the Free Exercise rights of women whose religious views either permit or require them to procure an abortion in certain circumstances.Because all current post-Dobbs prolife laws include exceptions--such as for the life of the mother, substantial health risk, severe fetal deformity, or a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest—defenders of the Free Exercise argument maintain that under current precedent after Employment Division v. Smith (1990), the Court should apply strict scrutiny to such prolife laws.  Francis "Frank" J. Beckwith is a member of the JWI Board of Scholars and a professor of philosophy and church-state studies at Baylor University, where he also serves as the Associate Director of Graduate Studies in Philosophy and an Affiliate Professor of Political Science. His academic interests encompass religion, jurisprudence, politics, and ethics. Beckwith's scholarly contributions appear in leading academic journals, and he has authored several influential books that explore the intersections of faith, law, and morality. A recognized figure in the discourse on church-state relations, he frequently engages in public debates and discussions, sharing his expertise in both academic and broader societal contexts. Additionally, Beckwith has delivered lectures at various institutions, enhancing the understanding of how philosophical principles inform contemporary legal and political issues. This episode is adapted from a program JWI co-sponsored with First Liberty Institute's Center on Religion Culture and Democracy.

Clint Bolick, the 44th Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss how the Supreme Court has interpreted the clauses of the First Amendment of the Constitution, and its impact on religious education in the United States.

This resulted in a great victory at the U.S. Supreme Court. Constitutional expert, lawyer, author, pastor, and founder of Liberty Counsel Mat Staver discusses the important topics of the day with co-hosts and guests that impact life, liberty, and family. To stay informed and get involved, visit LC.org.

As we age, maintaining a regular exercise routine becomes increasingly important for our overall health and well-being. For elderly adults, staying physically active can help prevent illness, improve mobility and flexibility, and enhance overall quality of life. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such Read More Shared by United Resource Connection September 7, 2024

High school French teacher Peter Vlaming was fired from his job in West Point, Virginia, for declining to refer to a female student using male pronouns. Vlaming filed suit in state court, alleging that the school board had violated his rights to the free exercise of religion and free speech under the Virginia Constitution. Late […]

High school French teacher Peter Vlaming was fired from his job in West Point, Virginia, for declining to refer to a female student using male pronouns. Vlaming filed suit in state court, alleging that the school board had violated his rights to the free exercise of religion and free speech under the Virginia Constitution. Late last year, the Virginia Supreme Court held that the Virginia Constitution provides more robust protections for religious freedom than the federal Free Exercise Clause as interpreted in Employment Division v. Smith. As the Court wrote, “the federal Smith doctrine is not and never has been the law in Virginia, and its shelf life in the federal courts remains uncertain.” In its place, the Virginia Supreme Court adopted a history-and-tradition approach that asks whether the religious claimant has committed or is seeking to commit “overt acts against peace and good order,” and whether the government’s interest in negating that threat could be satisfied by “less restrictive means” than denying a religious exemption. This opinion raises a host of interesting questions: Will the U.S. Supreme Court’s history-and-tradition test for Second Amendment challenges be expanded to apply to other constitutional rights? Will other state courts follow the Virginia Supreme Court’s lead in applying it to their own state constitutions? Did the Virginia Supreme Court get its history right? Could its historical analysis serve as the basis for the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit Smith? What rights should public schoolteachers have in the classroom? Should courts resolve conflicts between the alleged free-exercise and free-speech rights of teachers and the alleged rights of students to engage in their own forms of self-expression? Finally, what role, if any, does Title IX play in the analysis? This panel will address these and other questions raised by this important decision.Featuring:Prof. Stephanie Barclay, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame Law SchoolProf. Kate Carté, Professor of History, Southern Methodist UniversityChris Schandevel, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom's Appellate Advocacy TeamAdam Unikowsky, Partner, Jenner & Block LLC(Moderator) Eric Treene, Senior Counsel, Storzer and Associates; Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of America Law School

In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022), pro-choice advocates have argued that restrictions on abortion violate freedom of religion in some circumstances. A recent decision by the Indiana Court of Appeals, academic articles, and media stories have taken up these religious free-exercise challenges to abortion laws. […]

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022), pro-choice advocates have argued that restrictions on abortion violate freedom of religion in some circumstances. A recent decision by the Indiana Court of Appeals, academic articles, and media stories have taken up these religious free-exercise challenges to abortion laws. This panel will explore the constitutional and statutory grounds for these claims in different faith traditions. pro-life responses to them, and the implications of these claims for religious liberty and for the post-Dobbs legal status of abortion.Featuring:Erin M. Hawley, Senior Counsel, Vice President of Center for Life & Regulatory Practice, Alliance Defending FreedomProf. Michael A. Helfand, Brenden Mann Foundation Chair and Co-Director of the Nootbaar Institute for Law, Pepperdine Caruso School of LawProf. Jessie Hill, Associate Dean and Professor of Law, Case Western Reserve University School of LawProf. Sherif Girgis, Associate Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame Law School(Moderator) Prof. Michael Moreland, Professor of Law and Religion and Director of the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

As we age, maintaining a regular exercise routine becomes increasingly important for our overall health and well-being. For elderly adults, staying physically active can help prevent illness, improve mobility and flexibility, and enhance overall quality of life. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such Read More Shared by United Resource Connection June 7, 2024

Over the past decade, the tension between First Amendment rights and public accommodations laws has grown, as wedding vendors have refused to serve same-sex weddings pursuant to their consciences. On June 30, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, which held that the free speech clause prohibits a […]

Over the past decade, the tension between First Amendment rights and public accommodations laws has grown, as wedding vendors have refused to serve same-sex weddings pursuant to their consciences. On June 30, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, which held that the free speech clause prohibits a state from forcing a website designer to create messages with which the designer disagrees. That said, the Court has yet to issue a clear decision that resolves these issues under the free exercise clause, even though wedding vendors almost invariably object to providing services on religious grounds. Indeed, when the free exercise question was addressed in Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. V. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the Court largely punted on the issue and resolved the case on very narrow procedural grounds.Wedding-vendor litigation continues to percolate throughout the country and raises important questions for First Amendment jurisprudence, including whether the Supreme Court should reconsider Employment Division v. Smith, whether the free exercise clause extends protection to wedding vendors in a similar way to the free speech clause, and whether the so-called “hybrid rights doctrine” is a viable theory for analyzing religious claims to exemptions. Please join us as we discuss these issues and others with some of the leading scholars and practitioners in this space.Featuring: Prof. Andrew Koppelman, John Paul Stevens Professor of Law, Northwestern University School of LawProf. Douglas Laycock, Robert E. Scott Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, University of Virginia School of LawJonathan Scruggs, Senior Counsel and the Director for the Center for Conscience Initiatives, Alliance Defending Freedom(Moderator) Austin Rogers, Chief Counsel at Senate Judiciary Committee

Join us for this episode where we debunk common misconceptions about the United States Constitution and learn some cool new facts. In this episode, we will explore popular beliefs about the Constitution and separate fact from fiction. Our guest, Dr. Andrew Porwancher, a historian, will help us understand this vital document's true meaning and significance. Let's delve into the myths surrounding the Constitution and uncover the truth about one of the most critical documents in American history. We will also discuss the connection between a massive wheel of cheese and the separation of church and state.Check out Andrew's Website Here Follow us on:TwitterLinked InInstagramWebsiteInterested in a Master's Degree? Check out the School of Civic and Economic Leadership's Master's in Classical Liberal Education and Leadership

It's Monday, February 26th, A.D. 2024.  This is The Worldview heard at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus.  (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Nigerian Muslims kill 23 in 3-day string of attacks From February 16th to February 19th, suspected Islamic terrorists in Nigeria killed 23 people, injured 10, kidnapped five, and set ablaze 28 houses across multiple villages, reports International Christian Concern. It is unknown if these are coordinated attacks or if the same terrorists are committing each attack in the area.  Audu Tanko said, “There is tension now in my village. We are killed because of our faith in Jesus.” Luke 11:49-51 says, “God in His wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.' Therefore, this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.” Trump wallops Haley in South Carolina On Saturday, Donald Trump cruised to victory in the South Carolina Republican primary. He had received 59.7% of the vote over former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley with 39.5% of the vote, reported Fox News. TRUMP: “This was a little sooner than we anticipated. (cheers) It was an even bigger win than we anticipated. (cheers)  And I was just informed that we got double the number of votes that has ever been received in the great state of South Carolina. So, that's pretty good. (cheers) “I just want to say that I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now. (cheers) “We're going to be up here on November 5th, and we're gonna look at Joe Biden and we're gonna look him right in the eye. He's destroying our country. And we're gonna say, ‘Joe you're fired. Get out! Get out Joe. You're fired.'” (cheers) South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said this. McMASTER: “I would like you all to remember this moment, that you were here. This is a great moment in American history. We will probably never see another one like it. Every time a rocket launches you know it goes up slow and it is climbing and climbing and then boom, that next stage comes off and it goes. Well, we just did that. We just hit maximum velocity! We going all the way!” (cheers) And South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham spoke at Trump's victory as well. GRAHAM: “America, the nightmare (cheers) you're facing is just about over. Help is on the way. (cheers) This is the most qualified man to be president United States. (cheers) And let it be said that South Carolina created the biggest political comeback in American history!” Nikki Haley vows to continue Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley received an unusual introduction after having lost the primary in her home state. ANNOUNCER: “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the next President of the United States, Nikki Haley.” She congratulated the victor. HALEY: “I want to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory and I want to thank the people of South Carolina for using the power of your voice. … I feel blessed tonight. I've felt blessed through this entire journey, even when it's been tough. I haven't lost sight of that. I've felt God's strength and grace every step of the way.” Haley described what she believed was the underlying message. HALEY: “It's a blessing to know that across our sweet state everyone wants to bring back the America we know and love. (cheers) That's the underlying message of what happened today.” But she doesn't think that Biden nor Trump is the answer. HALEY: “We can't afford four more years of Biden's failures or Trump's lack of focus. (cheers)  Does anyone seriously think Joe Biden or Donald Trump will unite our country to solve our problems? One of them calls his fellow Americans fascists. The other calls his fellow Americans vermin. They aren't fighting for our country's future. Their demanding we fight each other. The younger generation, my children's generation, knows it better than anyone. They deserve better. They deserve leadership.” (cheers) Despite receiving a trouncing in her home state, Haley vowed to stay in the race. HALEY: “I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president. (cheers) I'm a woman of my word. (cheers) I'm not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. (cheers) South Carolina has spoken. We're the fourth state to do so. In the next 10 days, another 21 states and territories will speak. They have the right to a real choice.” Biology professor fired for teaching chromosomes determine sex reinstated And finally, a Texas college has reinstated a professor who was fired for teaching about the traditional, biological definition of gender, reports The Christian Post.  Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” In a statement published Tuesday, the Christian law firm First Liberty Institute announced that Johnson Varkey, a St. Philip's College adjunct professor, has been reinstated after he was fired in January 2023 for rejecting aspects of homosexual and transgender ideology. The law firm filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after the San Antonio, Texas-based historically black community college fired Varkey because the biology professor told his students that sex is determined by an individual's chromosomes.  In a letter to St. Philip's College last summer, First Liberty Institute complained to administrators that Varkey's termination violated the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as well as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act.  The settlement reached Tuesday will enable Varkey to return to the classroom by the fall semester of the 2024-2025 academic year.   Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, February 26th in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Robert Louis Wilken, the William R. Kenan Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, has written an intellectual history of the ideas surrounding freedom of religion. Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom (Yale University Press, 2019) offers a revisionist history of how the ideas of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion originated in the writings of the Christian fathers of the early Church, such as Tertullian and Lactantius, during the period when Christians were a persecuted sect of the Roman Empire. Wilken argues that it was not the political theorists of the Enlightenment who invented religious freedom in response to the wars of the Reformation, but rather the participants of the Reformation itself, including both Protestant and Catholic thinkers, who recovered ideas from the Roman-era Church fathers and used them to develop arguments about religious liberty for both individuals and faith communities. Wilken demonstrates that the concerns about whether faith could ever be enforced by the sword were present from the beginnings of Christianity. Wilken's book helps inform our understanding of the origins of religious liberty, which is a concept of great import in contemporary debates about the meaning of the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Robert Louis Wilken, the William R. Kenan Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, has written an intellectual history of the ideas surrounding freedom of religion. Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom (Yale University Press, 2019) offers a revisionist history of how the ideas of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion originated in the writings of the Christian fathers of the early Church, such as Tertullian and Lactantius, during the period when Christians were a persecuted sect of the Roman Empire. Wilken argues that it was not the political theorists of the Enlightenment who invented religious freedom in response to the wars of the Reformation, but rather the participants of the Reformation itself, including both Protestant and Catholic thinkers, who recovered ideas from the Roman-era Church fathers and used them to develop arguments about religious liberty for both individuals and faith communities. Wilken demonstrates that the concerns about whether faith could ever be enforced by the sword were present from the beginnings of Christianity. Wilken's book helps inform our understanding of the origins of religious liberty, which is a concept of great import in contemporary debates about the meaning of the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Robert Louis Wilken, the William R. Kenan Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, has written an intellectual history of the ideas surrounding freedom of religion. Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom (Yale University Press, 2019) offers a revisionist history of how the ideas of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion originated in the writings of the Christian fathers of the early Church, such as Tertullian and Lactantius, during the period when Christians were a persecuted sect of the Roman Empire. Wilken argues that it was not the political theorists of the Enlightenment who invented religious freedom in response to the wars of the Reformation, but rather the participants of the Reformation itself, including both Protestant and Catholic thinkers, who recovered ideas from the Roman-era Church fathers and used them to develop arguments about religious liberty for both individuals and faith communities. Wilken demonstrates that the concerns about whether faith could ever be enforced by the sword were present from the beginnings of Christianity. Wilken's book helps inform our understanding of the origins of religious liberty, which is a concept of great import in contemporary debates about the meaning of the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Robert Louis Wilken, the William R. Kenan Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, has written an intellectual history of the ideas surrounding freedom of religion. Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom (Yale University Press, 2019) offers a revisionist history of how the ideas of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion originated in the writings of the Christian fathers of the early Church, such as Tertullian and Lactantius, during the period when Christians were a persecuted sect of the Roman Empire. Wilken argues that it was not the political theorists of the Enlightenment who invented religious freedom in response to the wars of the Reformation, but rather the participants of the Reformation itself, including both Protestant and Catholic thinkers, who recovered ideas from the Roman-era Church fathers and used them to develop arguments about religious liberty for both individuals and faith communities. Wilken demonstrates that the concerns about whether faith could ever be enforced by the sword were present from the beginnings of Christianity. Wilken's book helps inform our understanding of the origins of religious liberty, which is a concept of great import in contemporary debates about the meaning of the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Louis Wilken, the William R. Kenan Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, has written an intellectual history of the ideas surrounding freedom of religion. Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom (Yale University Press, 2019) offers a revisionist history of how the ideas of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion originated in the writings of the Christian fathers of the early Church, such as Tertullian and Lactantius, during the period when Christians were a persecuted sect of the Roman Empire. Wilken argues that it was not the political theorists of the Enlightenment who invented religious freedom in response to the wars of the Reformation, but rather the participants of the Reformation itself, including both Protestant and Catholic thinkers, who recovered ideas from the Roman-era Church fathers and used them to develop arguments about religious liberty for both individuals and faith communities. Wilken demonstrates that the concerns about whether faith could ever be enforced by the sword were present from the beginnings of Christianity. Wilken's book helps inform our understanding of the origins of religious liberty, which is a concept of great import in contemporary debates about the meaning of the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

Robert Louis Wilken, the William R. Kenan Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, has written an intellectual history of the ideas surrounding freedom of religion. Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom (Yale University Press, 2019) offers a revisionist history of how the ideas of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion originated in the writings of the Christian fathers of the early Church, such as Tertullian and Lactantius, during the period when Christians were a persecuted sect of the Roman Empire. Wilken argues that it was not the political theorists of the Enlightenment who invented religious freedom in response to the wars of the Reformation, but rather the participants of the Reformation itself, including both Protestant and Catholic thinkers, who recovered ideas from the Roman-era Church fathers and used them to develop arguments about religious liberty for both individuals and faith communities. Wilken demonstrates that the concerns about whether faith could ever be enforced by the sword were present from the beginnings of Christianity. Wilken's book helps inform our understanding of the origins of religious liberty, which is a concept of great import in contemporary debates about the meaning of the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Robert Louis Wilken, the William R. Kenan Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, has written an intellectual history of the ideas surrounding freedom of religion. Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom (Yale University Press, 2019) offers a revisionist history of how the ideas of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion originated in the writings of the Christian fathers of the early Church, such as Tertullian and Lactantius, during the period when Christians were a persecuted sect of the Roman Empire. Wilken argues that it was not the political theorists of the Enlightenment who invented religious freedom in response to the wars of the Reformation, but rather the participants of the Reformation itself, including both Protestant and Catholic thinkers, who recovered ideas from the Roman-era Church fathers and used them to develop arguments about religious liberty for both individuals and faith communities. Wilken demonstrates that the concerns about whether faith could ever be enforced by the sword were present from the beginnings of Christianity. Wilken's book helps inform our understanding of the origins of religious liberty, which is a concept of great import in contemporary debates about the meaning of the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/law

Robert Louis Wilken, the William R. Kenan Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, has written an intellectual history of the ideas surrounding freedom of religion. Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom (Yale University Press, 2019) offers a revisionist history of how the ideas of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion originated in the writings of the Christian fathers of the early Church, such as Tertullian and Lactantius, during the period when Christians were a persecuted sect of the Roman Empire. Wilken argues that it was not the political theorists of the Enlightenment who invented religious freedom in response to the wars of the Reformation, but rather the participants of the Reformation itself, including both Protestant and Catholic thinkers, who recovered ideas from the Roman-era Church fathers and used them to develop arguments about religious liberty for both individuals and faith communities. Wilken demonstrates that the concerns about whether faith could ever be enforced by the sword were present from the beginnings of Christianity. Wilken's book helps inform our understanding of the origins of religious liberty, which is a concept of great import in contemporary debates about the meaning of the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Louis Wilken, the William R. Kenan Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity at the University of Virginia, has written an intellectual history of the ideas surrounding freedom of religion. Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom (Yale University Press, 2019) offers a revisionist history of how the ideas of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion originated in the writings of the Christian fathers of the early Church, such as Tertullian and Lactantius, during the period when Christians were a persecuted sect of the Roman Empire. Wilken argues that it was not the political theorists of the Enlightenment who invented religious freedom in response to the wars of the Reformation, but rather the participants of the Reformation itself, including both Protestant and Catholic thinkers, who recovered ideas from the Roman-era Church fathers and used them to develop arguments about religious liberty for both individuals and faith communities. Wilken demonstrates that the concerns about whether faith could ever be enforced by the sword were present from the beginnings of Christianity. Wilken's book helps inform our understanding of the origins of religious liberty, which is a concept of great import in contemporary debates about the meaning of the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PRAY. WORK. VOTE. It's the beginning of a new election season. People are excited: politicians, reporters, and political junkies! But can you think of anyone else that is excited? Oh boy! I get to watch more political ads! But what is GOD'S PERSPECTIVE? Have you ever thought about that? God says we are stewards of everything He gave us. We can be a GOOD steward. Or we can be a BAD steward. In America, GOD gave each of us a vote. Have you ever thought about the fact that your ONE VOTE is a gift from the Creator GOD himself? He made you a steward of that one vote. He didn't give it to anyone else. Just you. However, if you choose to do your part, working with the candidates that best align with your vision for America, you might just end up being able to vote for a godly candidate who seeks to live, speak and vote with their Bible open. Wouldn't that be nice for a change? Now for those of you who are screaming “Separation of Church and State” right now. I can almost hear you. Your problem is, you don't know Separation of Church & State is. You think you do but you have been LIED to. Separation of C& S means the government may neither REQUIRE nor CENSOR religious speech or practice. That is why the founders put in both an “Establishment” clause and a “Free Exercise” clause. Too many anti-God folks conveniently leave out the “Free exercise” clause, and they perpetuate the myth that Separation of C&S is a one-way street. You see this little booklet, “Your 7 Duties….” My dad first wrote this 45 years ago to help Christians better engage as salt and light in American culture. I revised it a few years ago to update it for the current cultural setting. Think of it as your starting TOOLBOX for helping to change America. You can order a pack so you can give it to your friends as well. You know that if you don't know where to start, a lot of your friends have the same problem. BrightMedia.org And order your copy. Don't wait. Get started today! In the future we will have a FREE e-Version at BrightMedia.org God says we are stewards of everything he gives us. He gave each of us one vote. You can be a good steward. Or you can be a bad steward. But this election season, you are a steward of the vote He gave you. Never forget that. God is the issue—in every issue. Especially when it comes to electing candidates who can help lead us away from the DARKNESS toward the LIGHT. This is Brad Bright. Thanks for joining me today. If you found this podcast helpful, please like, subscribe or share. God Bless.

The time to implement a strategy is now!In the past, strategy making was like this exclusive club, only happening behind closed doors with top brass. But guess what? Times have changed! Now, we all have a say, from the big shots to the frontline warriors. It's about tapping into the wisdom of everyone on the team which allows everyone to provide input. This Strategic Thinking exercise is your secret weapon. Whether you're tackling goals, wrestling with issues, or solving problems, this approach is your go-to. It's about getting everyone in on the action and creating a strategy that's not just from the top down. That's how we win together.Strategy making sees strategy and change linked as though they are like two peas in a pod. Finding those new strategic options and actually making them work is key.  We're not here to get stuck in analysis paralysis. It's about putting ideas into action, pronto. The real value lies in the execution and not the endless evaluation.  Why? Because change is like a freight train – it's coming at you whether you're ready or not. And guess what? The best time to implement your strategy is right now. Not tomorrow, not next week, or next month – it is right now! You want to ride that wave of change and not get washed away by it, right? Seize the moment, take action, and capitalize on the benefits. Don't wait around – implement that strategy and make those changes work for you sooner rather than later! Applying Strategic Thinking practices to your business will accelerate your success by allowing a crystal-clear focus to drive daily tasks - for you and your team.  To download my complimentary strategic thinking exercise, go tohttps://www.accountabilitycoach.com/strategic-thinking-model/. Subscribe to my high-value proven business success tips and resources Blog (https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/blog/)  Want more from The Accountability Coach™, subscribe to more high-value content by looking for me on https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/my-podcast/ and on most podcast platforms and in most English-speaking countries, or by going to https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/accountabilitycoach.com/id290547573.  Take advantage of all the complimentary business tips and tools by joining the Free Silver Membership on https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/inner-circle-store/.  Go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com to check out for yourself how I, as your Accountability Coach™, can help you get and stay focused on you highest payoff activities that put you in the highest probability position to achieve your professional and personal goals, so you can enjoy the kind of business and life you truly want and deserve.  I'm the author of many books, including, Excuses Don't Count; Results Rule, Live Life with No Regrets, No Excuses, The Guide to Stopping Procrastination, and the Work Life Balance Emergency Kit, The Roadmap To Success with Stephen Covey and Ken Blanchard, and more.   Aim for what you want each and every day!  Anne BachrachThe Accountability Coach™

CC Linstroth of Age-Friendly Northfield stresses the importance of physical exercise for senior citizens and provides information about indoor walking and pickleball options this winter.

The Supreme Court’s decisions in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis and in Groff v. DeJoy posed issues about religious freedom in the workplace and religiously motivated speech in the marketplace. This panel will consider the cases and their implications for religious freedom, especially how future cases might apply the tests articulated by the Court for “substantial costs” to a business for making an accommodation in Groff, and for what counts as expressive messages protected against the application of state anti-discrimination laws under 303 Creative. The panel will also consider the broader question of if there is value in accommodating religion in the workplace despite conflicts with employer preferences, and likewise, if there is a value in accommodating businesses (especially small businesses, where this typically arises) in light of broader societal preferences (such as non-discrimination law). Observers indicate that Title VII represents statutory values and 303 Creative raises Free Exercise constitutional values, but both cases pose questions about making room for faith in public life.Featuring:Prof. William Eskridge, Alexander M. Bickel Professor of Public Law, Yale Law SchoolMr. Aaron Streett, Chairman, Supreme Court and Constitutional Law Practice, Baker Botts LLPMr. Adam Unikowsky, Partner, Jenner & Block LLPMs. Kristen K. Waggoner, General Counsel, Alliance Defending FreedomModerator: Hon. S. Kyle Duncan, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth CircuitOverflow: Cabinet & Senate Rooms

In 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that to deny a church “an otherwise available public benefit on account of its religious status” is to violate the Free Exercise Clause of the Constitution. In that case, Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, a Missouri church that operated a licensed preschool and daycare facility, applied for state “funds for qualifying organizations to purchase recycled tires to resurface playgrounds.”   Trinity Lutheran met all the qualifications of the program, but the state informed them that a grant would violate a state constitutional provision that “no money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, section or denomination of religion.” Trinity Lutheran sued, claiming that because of the Free Exercise clause in the First Amendment, a government benefit cannot be withheld solely because of religion. In his majority decision, Chief Justice Roberts agreed, writing, “the exclusion of Trinity Lutheran from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution all the same, and cannot stand.”   The Trinity Lutheran case was only six years ago but, in a case of “those who forget history are doomed to repeat it,” Colorado is the latest state to “forget” something about which the Court has been very clear.  This is the inaugural year of Colorado's Universal Preschool Program, which funds 15 hours of preschool per week for every child in the state. To be a part of the program, the state is requiring that preschools sign a “service agreement” that includes a commitment to “not discriminate” on the basis of sexual orientation or so-called “gender identity.”  In August, the Denver Catholic Archdiocese, which operates 36 preschools and serves 1,500 kids a year, filed a lawsuit, noting that this “service agreement” would force them to hire teachers and administrators who do not hold to their faith commitments. Not only is this a case of “Trinity Lutheran all over again,” but it is another chapter in the never-ending story of public officials pressuring Christians to keep their faith out of public life.   Recently in Massachusetts, state officials denied an adoption license to a Catholic couple, claiming their faith made them “unsupportive” of transgender ideology. The state of Oregon similarly denied an adoption license to a young, widowed mother because she would not commit to taking a hypothetically gender-confused child to a gender clinic.    Years ago in a Breakpoint commentary, Chuck Colson described the jury selection process in the trial of Jack Kevorkian, the doctor accused of helping at least 27 of his patients kill themselves. Kevorkian's lawyer attempted to bar anyone who said their Christian faith forbids suicide from serving on the jury, claiming that belief made them unfairly biased.  "Religion has been increasingly relegated to the private sphere. Christians are welcome to participate in public life only if they leave their faith at home … [but] [t]he logic of Kevorkian's defense attorney could be applied to any criminal trial. If potential jurors can be excluded for believing that assisted suicide is immoral, what will be the next step? Will the attorneys of accused murderers be permitted to exclude jurors whose religion teaches that life is sacred?"  More than 25 years later, that dismal hypothetical seems less hypothetical. As the Colorado, Massachusetts, and Oregon stories reveal, some public officials are so hostile to the Christian faith, they would rather allow children in foster care to sleep on office floors in government buildings and remain in juvenile detention facilities than go to a home with religious parents.  Of course, there must aways be moral restrictions around who can and cannot adopt children and operate a preschool. Restrictions are necessary to protect children. However, some states are now operating from a moral framework that is exactly backward. The biblical woes against those who call right wrong and wrong right apply as much to government programs as they do to individuals.   It is a grave mistake to use irrational and false moral claims as the basis for these moral restrictions. In this upside-down world, children must be protected from religion rather than ideologies that threaten their minds, hearts, bodies, and most importantly relationships. Claiming to protect children, they are instead put in danger, subject to irreversible physical, psychological, and emotional damage.  Given how clear the Supreme Court has been about states discriminating against religious institutions, I suspect the state of Colorado will be forced to change this policy. Given how willing the state of Colorado is to defy clear Court teachings and target people of faith, I suspect they will resist for as long as possible. In the meantime, children will suffer because of the state's bigotry. If people of faith are told they “need not apply” for adoption licenses, preschool programs, serving on juries, feeding the homeless, advocating for the preborn, or caring for the sick and dying, who do they imagine will take their place?  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Maria Baer. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

Grant Handrigan is a kinesiology professor at l'Université de Moncton.

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Did you know that the Department of Veterans Affairs established a new rule that became effective in September 2022 that established a medical benefit to pregnant veterans for abortions? Did you know that a nurse practitioner filed a lawsuit against the VA so that she would not be required to help with abortion services because it violated her free exercise of religion? Listen up to hear the rest of the story. Tune in to KLUP 930 AM radio to discover your legal issue blind spots or search www.TalkLawRadio.com. Also watch Facebook Live and YouTube. Follow and subscribe so that you know when new episodes are posted. Attorney Todd Marquardt brings you insightful topics every Saturday morning, but he's not stopping there! Join Todd every Sunday afternoon at 4:30pm for a special bonus segment! He addresses unique topics in more detail with a professional perspective. So what are you waiting for? Discover your hidden legal blind spots by listening to all the impactful Talk Law content every weekend!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Agreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of ConscienceIn one of the most thorough accounts of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, Nathan S. Chapman and Michael W. McConnell provide an insightful overview of the legal history and meaning of the clause, as well as its value for promoting equal religious freedom and diversity in contemporary America.The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion", may be the most contentious and misunderstood provision of the entire U.S. Constitution. It lies at the heart of America's culture wars. But what, exactly, is an "establishment of religion"? And what is a law "respecting" it?Many commentators reduce the clause to "the separation of church and state." This implies that church and state are at odds, that the public sphere must be secular, and that the Establishment Clause is in tension with the Free Exercise of Religion Clause. All of these implications misconstrue the Establishment Clause's original purpose and enduring value for a religiously pluralistic society. The clause facilitates religious diversity and guarantees equality of religious freedom by prohibiting the government from coercing or inducing citizens to change their religious beliefs and practices.In Agreeing to Disagree, Nathan S. Chapman and Michael W. McConnell detail the theological, political, and philosophical underpinnings of the Establishment Clause, state disestablishment, and the disestablishment norms applied to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment. Americans in the early Republic were intimately acquainted with the laws used in England, the colonies, and early states to enforce religious uniformity. The Establishment Clause was understood to prohibit the government from incentivizing such uniformity. Chapman and McConnell show how the U.S. Supreme Court has largely implemented these purposes in cases addressing prayer in school, state funding of religious schools, religious symbols on public property, and limits on religious accommodations. In one of the most thorough accounts of the Establishment Clause, Chapman and McConnell argue that the clause is best understood as a constitutional commitment for Americans to agree to disagree about matters of faith.Nathan S. Chapman is the Pope F. Brock Associate Professor of Professional Responsibility at the University of Georgia School of Law, and a McDonald Distinguished Fellow of Law and Religion at the Emory Center for Law and Religion. He was formerly the Executive Director of the Stanford Constitutional Law Center. Michael W. McConnell is the Richard and Frances Mallery Professor and Director of the Constitutional Law Center at Stanford Law School, and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. From 2002 to 2009, he served as a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He has argued sixteen cases in the United States Supreme Court, six of which involved the Religion Clauses. McConnell is also co-editor of Religion and the Constitution and Christian Perspectives on Legal Thought. His most recent book is The President Who Would Not Be King: Executive Power under the Constitution.Buy the book from Wellington Square Bookshop - ​https://wellingtonsquarebooks.indiecommerce.com/book/9780195304664

During this week's episode of NAPS Chat, Nick Reaves of Yale Law School's Free Exercise Clinic joins Bob Levi to discuss an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court, Groff v. DeJoy. The case involves the allegation the USPS failed to accommodate the religious beliefs of one of its employees. On behalf of Yale, Nick filed a "friend of the court brief" in support of former Rural Carrier Associate Gerald Groff, whose strict religious practice of not working on Sundays, his Sabbath, conflicted with the delivery of Amazon packages. Groff was disciplined for not showing up for work on Sundays. Nick and Bob discuss how religious observance and the Postal Service's unique mission may be calibrated. The Supreme Court will hear the case on Tuesday, April 18, and can be heard here.

Opening Statement: Free Exercise Is Not Forced Belief Heartland POD on Twitter - @TheHeartlandPOD Co-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85  (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp   (Post)Sean Diller @SeanDillerCO   (Twitter and Post)https://heartlandpod.com/JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Opening Statement: Free Exercise Is Not Forced BeliefTrue or FalseThe Satanic Panic is Back – Satanic Panic Part 2: Electric Boogaloohttps://www.salon.com/2023/02/08/bless-their-hearts-the-christian-right-attempts-to-mount-a-revival/Set up soft targets for hateFear of the unknown is realSet up the “unknown” and then define itGay = pedophiles and groomersTrans/non-binary = mental disorderGreat irony is that a satanic group would still be a group that believes the basic religious tenants of american christianity Common misconception is that non-belief is actually satanic but naturally to worship satan you'd have to first believe in satanYeah…No, Yeah MO State Rep Doesn't Welcome Debate - Thinks People Should Just Move Instead If They Disagree With Himhttps://twitter.com/Jeremy_Danner/status/1623335262347575300?s=20&t=j-g8OxNrv1U7zCGFT6oyEQRight on point with the Initiative petition bills - which are being debated this weekhttps://twitter.com/galenbacharier/status/1624453720116277250They keep a list of “bad changes” by voters - they literally want to take away the power of the voters because this small group of culture warriors hates the outcome of basic direct democracy Honorable mention - Steven Weber's BBQ tour has concluded and I'm afraid he might be panderinghttps://twitter.com/s_webber/status/1624141497208606741?s=20&t=W3bNWxnmZJwr9k4XIUE6dwBuy or SellThe Left Dismissing Culture War Figures As a Joke Does More Harm Than GoodOld but good piece on this: https://www.spiked-online.com/2022/07/18/we-dismiss-the-culture-war-at-our-peril/The Big OnePennsylvania Flips Blue - A (Liberty) Bell Weather?https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/democrats-win-control-of-pennsylvania-house-ending-years-of-gop-rulehttps://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2023/2/8/23591602/pennsylvania-house-democrats-win-special-election-majority

Opening Statement: Free Exercise Is Not Forced Belief Heartland POD on Twitter - @TheHeartlandPOD Co-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85  (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp   (Post)Sean Diller @SeanDillerCO   (Twitter and Post)https://heartlandpod.com/JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Opening Statement: Free Exercise Is Not Forced BeliefTrue or FalseThe Satanic Panic is Back – Satanic Panic Part 2: Electric Boogaloohttps://www.salon.com/2023/02/08/bless-their-hearts-the-christian-right-attempts-to-mount-a-revival/Set up soft targets for hateFear of the unknown is realSet up the “unknown” and then define itGay = pedophiles and groomersTrans/non-binary = mental disorderGreat irony is that a satanic group would still be a group that believes the basic religious tenants of american christianity Common misconception is that non-belief is actually satanic but naturally to worship satan you'd have to first believe in satanYeah…No, Yeah MO State Rep Doesn't Welcome Debate - Thinks People Should Just Move Instead If They Disagree With Himhttps://twitter.com/Jeremy_Danner/status/1623335262347575300?s=20&t=j-g8OxNrv1U7zCGFT6oyEQRight on point with the Initiative petition bills - which are being debated this weekhttps://twitter.com/galenbacharier/status/1624453720116277250They keep a list of “bad changes” by voters - they literally want to take away the power of the voters because this small group of culture warriors hates the outcome of basic direct democracy Honorable mention - Steven Weber's BBQ tour has concluded and I'm afraid he might be panderinghttps://twitter.com/s_webber/status/1624141497208606741?s=20&t=W3bNWxnmZJwr9k4XIUE6dwBuy or SellThe Left Dismissing Culture War Figures As a Joke Does More Harm Than GoodOld but good piece on this: https://www.spiked-online.com/2022/07/18/we-dismiss-the-culture-war-at-our-peril/The Big OnePennsylvania Flips Blue - A (Liberty) Bell Weather?https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/democrats-win-control-of-pennsylvania-house-ending-years-of-gop-rulehttps://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2023/2/8/23591602/pennsylvania-house-democrats-win-special-election-majority

Today InPerspective with Dr. Harry Reeder September 19, 2022

It's a deep dive into law and religion in this conservative supermajority iteration of the Supreme Court. Kate talks with Micah Schwartzman of UVA and Nelson Tebbe of Cornell about some of the major religious liberty cases that have come before the Court in recent years, and what the Court may be signaling for the future.

In breaking news, the Supreme Court of the United States just issued an opinion in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. The case involves a high school football coach who was fired from his job simply because he would kneel "at midfield after games to offer a quiet personal prayer." In a 6-to-3 ruling, the Court reversed the Court of Appeals verdict and stated that the school had punished the coach for an act that was " doubly protected by the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment." Jay, Jordan, and the rest of the Sekulow team break down this major victory for religious liberty at the Supreme Court. This and more today on Sekulow.

Good Monday everyone, this is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief, for Monday, June 27th, 2022. Before I dive into the news, here’s something I want to remind you of immediately! Lies, Propaganda, Story Telling, and the Serrated Edge: This year our national conference is in Knoxville, TN October 6th-8th. The theme of this year’s conference is Lies, Propaganda, Storytelling and the Serrated Edge. Satan is the father of lies, and the mother of those lies is a government who has rejected God. We have especially been lied to these last two years, and the COVIDpanic has been one of the central mechanisms that our government has used to lie to us and to grab more power. Because Christians have not been reading their bibles, we are susceptible to lies and weak in our ability to fight these lies. God has given us His word to fight Satan and his lies, and we need to recover all of God’s word, its serrated edge and all. Mark your calendars for October 6th-8th, as we fight, laugh and feast with fellowship, beer and Psalms, our amazing lineup of speakers, hanging with our awesome vendors, meeting new friends, and more. Early bird tickets are available now, but will be gone before you know it!.. This Thursday! Sign up now at flfnetwork.com Now… here’s what you may have missed, over the weekend… The Tampa Bay Lightning had done just enough to force a game 6, and last night it came down to the wire: Stanley Cup Final Game 6: Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | Full Game Highlights -Play 8:31-9:01 The Colorado Avalanche are your new Stanley Cup Champions, after defeating Tampa Bay 2-1 in game 6. I was sort of hoping I’d get to see a 3-peat out of the lightning, but the Avalanche clearly deserved to win this series, so congratulations to them! https://hotair.com/jazz-shaw/2022/06/27/california-working-on-denying-gun-permits-based-on-ideological-viewpoints-n478907 California working on denying gun permits based on "ideological viewpoints" The Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen on Thursday didn’t simply shoot down New York’s onerous “good-cause requirement” in the gun permit application process. It set up similar laws in other states for likely revocation. One of those states is California, where they have their own requirement that applicants must show a “good cause” or “special need” before a carry permit is issued. State Attorney General Rob Bonta sent out a letter on Friday to law enforcement and government attorneys noting the change and saying that the state’s current “may issue” regime should be able to be converted to a “shall issue” regime with few modifications. So that’s good news, right? Not so fast. As Eugene Volokh points out at Reason, Bonta pivoted from signaling compliance with the new SCOTUS ruling to identifying another way to deny permits to people with no criminal record. He claims that the ruling will not impact the existing requirement for applicants to be able to demonstrate that they are “of good moral character.” On that basis, the state can start snooping around to see if you hold any unauthorized opinions or are prone to demonstrate “hatred and racism.” And how would they know that? Well, by going through your social media accounts, of course. Other jurisdictions list the personal characteristics one reasonably expects of candidates for a public-carry license who do not pose a danger to themselves or others. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s policy, for example, currently provides as follows: “Legal judgments of good moral character can include consideration of honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, reliability, respect for the law, integrity, candor, discretion, observance of fiduciary duty, respect for the rights of others, absence of hatred and racism, fiscal stability, profession-specific criteria such as pledging to honor the constitution and uphold the law, and the absence of criminal conviction.” [Emphasis added.] As a starting point for purposes of investigating an applicant’s moral character, many issuing authorities require personal references and/or reference letters. Investigators may personally interview applicants and use the opportunity to gain further insight into the applicant’s character. And they may search publicly-available information, including social media accounts, in assessing the applicant’s character. As Volokh goes on to explain, this entire scheme appears to be completely unconstitutional. It’s a violation of the First Amendment before we even begin to examine how it would hold up under the Second Amendment. The government is not allowed to restrict your actions or suspend your Constitutional rights based on the viewpoints you express, even if they are unpopular with the current regime. https://americanmilitarynews.com/2022/06/us-troops-surpass-100000-in-europe The U.S. military has steadily built up its presence in Europe in the four months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. More than 100,000 U.S. troops are in Europe today, compared to around 70,000 around the start of the Russian invasion. Last week, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the U.S. “increased the number of U.S. troops in Europe from roughly 70,000 to more than 100,000 over these last months.” In addition to the overall U.S. force size in Europe, Stoltenberg noted there are more than 40,000 troops from various countries under NATO’s direct command that are positioned on the eastern edge of the alliance. NATO’s force consists of troops from a variety of alliance member nations. In a May 20 U.S. State Department press briefing, department spokesman Ned Price had confirmed the U.S. plans to maintain an ongoing presence of 100,000 troops in Europe. While the U.S. presence in Europe has risen in response to Russia, questions remain about whether the U.S. can maintain this presence in the long run. With no plans for the U.S. and NATO to directly intervene in the conflict in Ukraine — beyond providing Ukrainian forces weapons, supplies and training — the missions of U.S. and NATO forces is primarily to ensure the conflict in Ukraine doesn’t spill over into NATO countries. Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank told the Washington Times last week that the U.S. troop build-up in Europe could come at the expense of U.S. readiness in other parts of the world, like the Indo-Pacific region where Chinese forces have expanded their presence. So that’s what’s going on overseas, let’s shift back to the home front, where I’ve got to ask you… are you happy with your job? Because if not, I want to tell you about RedBalloon! Redballoon Not so long ago, the American dream was alive and well. Employees who worked hard were rewarded, and employers looked for people who could do the job, not for people who had the right political views. RedBalloon.work is a job site designed to get us back to what made American businesses successful: free speech, hard work, and having fun. If you are a free speech employer who wants to hire employees who focus on their work and not identity politics, then post a job on RedBalloon. If you are an employee who is being censored at work or is being forced to comply with the current zeitgeist, post your resume on RedBalloon and look for a new job. redballoon.work, the job site where free speech is still alive! https://thepostmillennial.com/pro-abortion-activist-arrested-for-allegedly-attacking-police-with-flamethrower?utm_campaign=64487 Suspect accused of using flamethrower in attack at Los Angeles Antifa riot charged with attempted murder Pro-abortion activist Michael Ortiz was arrested on June 26th after allegedly attacking police with a makeshift flamethrower during a violent riot over the reversal of Roe v. Wade. As the New York Post reports, several others were arrested during the Los Angeles riot, including 23-year-old Juliana Bernardo who allegedly tried to steal a police officer's baton amid skirmishes with law enforcement. The pro-abortion protestors shut down the LA freeway, harassed and attacked drivers, broke building windows, and lobbed a firework explosive at police. Video posted by The Post Millennial's Andy Ngo shows Ortiz discharging the makeshift weapon while hiding behind a black bloc militant who was holding an umbrella. Ortiz allegedly fired the flames around 8:20 pm amidst a progressively violent riot. LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore said in a statement that, "Individuals participating in such criminal activity are not exercising their 1st Amendment rights in protest of the Supreme Court decision. Rather, they are acting as criminals. The Department will vigorously pursue prosecution of these individuals." The violence comes after radical pro-abortion groups have called for nationwide protests including one group, Jane's Revenge, promising a "Night of Rage" to protest the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade. Now let’s end with some good news, and the topic that I love… sports! https://www.foxnews.com/politics/high-school-football-coach-scores-big-win-supreme-court-post-game-prayer High school football coach scores big win at Supreme Court over post-game prayer The Supreme Court handed a big win to a former Washington high school football coach who lost his job over reciting a prayer on the 50-yard line after games. At issue was whether a public school employee praying alone but in view of students was engaging in unprotected "government speech," and if it is not government speech, does it still pose a problem under the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. The Supreme Court ruled Monday in a 6-3 decision that the answer to both questions is no. "Here, a government entity sought to punish an individual for engaging in a brief, quiet, personal religious observance doubly protected by the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment. And the only meaningful justification the government offered for its reprisal rested on a mistaken view that it had a duty to ferret out and suppress," Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the Court's opinion. "Religious observances even as it allows comparable secular speech. The Constitution neither mandates nor tolerates that kind of discrimination." Joe Kennedy was a junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant coach with the Bremerton School District in Washington from 2008 to 2015. He began the practice of reciting a post-game prayer by himself, but eventually students started joining him. According to court documents, this evolved into motivational speeches that included religious themes. After an opposing coach brought it to the principal's attention, the school district told Kennedy to stop. He did, temporarily, then notified the school that he would resume the practice. The situation garnered media attention, and when Kennedy announced that he would go back to praying on the field, it raised security concerns. When he did pray after the game, a number of people stormed the field in support. The school district then offered to let Kennedy pray in other locations before and after games, or for him to pray on the 50-yard line after everyone else had left the premises, but he refused, insisting that he would continue his regular practice. After continuing the prayers at two more games, the school district placed Kennedy on leave. "That reasoning was misguided," the majority opinion said. "Both the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect expressions like Mr. Kennedy’s. Nor does a proper understanding of the Amendment’s Establishment Clause require the government to single out private religious speech for special disfavor. " Gorsuch stated that not just the Constitution, but "the best of our traditions" call for "mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike." The Court's ruling also stated that there is a distinct reason for why speech like Kennedy's is protected by both the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses. "That the First Amendment doubly protects religious speech is no accident. It is a natural outgrowth of the framers’ distrust of government attempts to regulate religion and suppress dissent," Gorsuch wrote. Another win, by the Supreme Court… Keep our Supreme Court Justices in your prayers, as they will undoubtedly be a target. This has been your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief… If you liked the show, why don’t you go ahead and hit that share button? If you want to sign up for a club membership, our conference, or our magazine, all of that can be found over at flfnetwork.com, and as always, if you want to become a corporate partner of CrossPolitc, let’s talk… email me, at garrison@fightlaughfeast.com. For CrossPolitic News, I’m Garrison Hardie. Have a great day, and Lord bless.

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 - 10:57) Big Affirmation of the Free Exercise of Religion: Supreme Court of the United States Rules in Favor of Christian Parents in MaineCarson v. Makin by Supreme Court of the United StatesPart II (10:57 - 19:16) ‘The Court is Leading Us to a Place Where Separation of Church and State is a Constitutional Slogan, Not A Constitutional Commitment.': A Closer Look at the Dissenting Opinions from Carson v. MakinPart III (19:16 - 26:28) Colombia, France, and Israel All Rocked by Political Upheavals — And Big issues are at Stake in All ThreeGustavo Petro Wins the Election, Becoming Colombia's First Leftist Leader by New York Times (Julie Turkewitz)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

* INTERVIEW: Winner of UNANIMOUS Victory in Supreme Court. Hal Shurtleff, CampConstitution.net, wins 9-0 at SCOTUS with Mat Staver, Liberty Council, on a case with big implications for Free Speech and Free Exercise of Religion. What is "government speech"? Does government have the "right" to "privilege certain viewpoints" and purge others? What is "establishment" of religion? These and many more questions* Space hotels are coming, woman comes back from the dead, as media says eternal life will become a $600+ BILLION market* Peer-reviewed study shows masks INCREASE fatalities of those who are sick. We already knew they do nothing to stop spread.* Russia & USA going full Dr. Strangelove — - Russian TV brags about wiping out UK with massive radioactive tsunami - Adam Kinzinger pushes AUMF against Russia - Ukraine admits "Ghost of Kyiv" is a fictional superhero, even as the most "prestigious" - Western media are eulogizing his death and pretending he's real. Pure "Wag the Dog" hilarity - Compare the $33 BILLION for Ukraine to annual military budgets for other nations, including Russia * Second massive EV battery fire with a French bus in just one month* How big are Democrats likely to lose in this election? Here's some numbers* Taxpayers on hook for subsidizing wind power, but windmills NOT paying into the system while prices are soaring now* First cars, then meat, now CEREAL targeted by Green Reset. Yes, they want to starve usTOPICS BY SEGMENTSegment 1* Space hotels are coming in 3-5 years. Will they be like Kubrick's 2001? * Woman comes back from the dead, hospital kills her* Media says eternal life and life extension will be a massive market as they ignore the free offer* WATCH: Massive EV Battery Fire in a Bus. A violent, intense fire nearly impossible to put out. 2nd one in a month. Maybe it's time we reassess the situation as they did with the HindenburgSegment 2 begins approximately 00:24:16* Biden used the name of a fictitious mole (and double agent) as his email account* How BIG a loss are the Democrats looking at in the electionSegment 3 begins approximately  00:42:00* Climate crazies are now demonizing cereal. Remember when our only concern was it getting soggy in milk?* Wind farms were supposed to pay excess profits back to taxpayers who subsidize them when prices are low. Guess what…* Russia gets as crazy as North Korea showing their undersea nuclear weapon to destroy UK with a 500 meter high radioactive tsunamiSegment 4 begins approximately 01:04:37*"Ghost of Kyiv" becomes an even greater "Wag the Dog" farce. Ukrainian military admits it was an invented character even as mainstream media in the US & UK continue to embellish the legend* Ukraine is adding to a hit list foreign government officials who refuse to allow weapon to travel through their countrySegment 5 begins approximately 01:26:16* Will USA Give Ukraine More Than Russia's Annual Military Budget? USA aid is getting close to Russia's annual military budget after just a couple of months. Here's how it compares to the rest of the countries of the world* Adam Kinzinger wants AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force) against Russia. With the "trip wires" to trigger it, it's tantamount to a declaration of warSegment 6 begins approximately 01:46:43* Hong Kong Christian pastor gives amazing speech about his DUTY to stand against political oppression* Mayor of Liverpool demands Christian message ‘God Loves You Too' be removed from buses because it's "hate speech"Segment 7 begins approximately 01:57:48INTERVIEW: Hal Shurtleff, CampConstitution.net, wins 9-0 at SCOTUS with big implications for Free Speech and Free Exercise of ReligionSegment 8 begins approximately 02:34:49* Japanese man says he's a "fictosexual". How did we get completely detached from reality?* James Dobson, Focus on the Family, lays the sexual insanity & grooming at the feet of Biden. Clearly Biden supports it. But is there something else going on?* Ted Cruz calls for investigation into full term murders of babies in DC* Fauci opts not to attend White House Correspondents Dinner due to "personal" decision about "risk". Yet he hobnobs and selfies with everyone at a brunch the same day* New peer-reviewed study shows MASKS INCREASE FATALITY RATESFind out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughZelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at:  $davidknightshowBTC to:  bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Mail: David Knight POB 1323 Elgin, TX 78621