Counsel #1 — What Is Religious Liberty?

Picture: Counsel #1 — What Is Religious Liberty?CCW 109.1

For Seventh-day Adventists, religious liberty is a cornerstone principle. It enshrines the fundamental right to hold your own convictions, practice the core beliefs of your faith (its tenets), and share them with others freely, without coercion or government interference.^{[165]https://media4.egwwritings.org/pdf/en_SPCCSR.pdf}CCW 109.2

This principle is rooted in two key beliefs:CCW 109.3

Separation of Church and State: Adventists believe a healthy society requires a clear distinction between religious and civil authority. The government should not promote or endorse any religion, nor should it restrict the right to practice one's faith freely.CCW 109.4

Rejection of Nationalism: Adventists believe all people are created equal under God, regardless of nationality or cultural background. Nationalism that elevates one nation or culture above others is seen as incompatible with this core belief.CCW 109.5

“He has made of one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth….” Acts 17:26 NKJV CCW 109.6

“The early church, strong only in the power of God, triumphed grandly, even over the opposing forces of a false religion, upheld by the state. Only when she allied herself with the state, seeking its aid, did she deny her God, lose her power, and darken the world into a night of a thousand years.” Ellen White in Spirit of Prophecy Counsels Relating To Church-State Relationships, 28.3CCW 109.7

Reflect: Can you think of any historical or current examples where the entanglement of religion and government led to negative consequences?CCW 109.8