The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland #UULMMD heard the UU Humanists Proposal on Freedom of Religion, Belief and Conscience today before the Committee on Evolving and Emerging Legislation and agreed to study the best way to proceed @UULM-MD : “The root of the word ‘heretic’ means ‘to choose.’ So after 325 A.D., either you professed to the Nicene Creed or you were a heretic choosing to believe differently… Christianity changed from a religion that valued how you lived and treated one another to valuing first what you believed... “Our Unitarian and Universalist forebears were primarily Christians who were deemed heretics, ones who would argue the meanings of Jesus’ life and of creeds and practices… The word liberal comes from the root that means freedom (liberty). Liberal religious thinkers promote freedom of inquiry, the use of reason and intuition in garnering truth, and tolerance of differing beliefs, knowing that no one person or system has all the answers... “In The Act of Religious Tolerance and Freedom of Conscience of 1568 John Sigismund of Transylvania reaffirmed that ‘in every place the preachers shall preach and explain the Gospel each according to his understanding of it, and if the congregation like it, well; if not, no one shall compel them for their souls would not be satisfied’… “The Maryland Toleration Act, also known as the ‘Act Concerning Religion’ was passed by Maryland’s colonial assembly in 1659, mandating religious tolerance, and was an important predecessor to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution… “Unitarian Universalism merged in 1961 and proclaimed through a democratic process that took several years a covenant, an agreement to abide by a list of principles and to behave in a way that fosters a certain sensibility…” * Excerpted from sermon delivered 19 Oct 2007Rev Lisa Ward, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Harford County * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PROPOSED AMENDMENT (2015) TO THE CONSTITUTION OF MARYLAND (1867) REPEAL ARTICLES 36 AND 37 OF DECLARATION OF RIGHTS AND SUBSTITUTE: “RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. Absolute freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment, belief and worship, shall be guaranteed to every individual, and no one shall be molested or disturbed in person or property on account of religion; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state. No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or the support of any religious establishment. No religious qualification shall be required for any public office or employment, nor shall any person be incompetent as a witness or juror, in consequence of his opinion on matters of religion, nor be questioned in any court of justice touching his religious belief to affect the weight of his testimony.” * * Excerpted from the Washington State Constitution, Section 11, Amendment 88 (1993)
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 20:44:58 +0000
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