Written by: Michael Swain, FOR SA Executive Director
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Most South Africans take religious freedom for granted. After all, our Constitution specifically guarantees religious freedom, and we love to state that 80% of our population claim to be Christian!
Church vs State
Our Constitutional Court has defined religious freedom as the right to believe, but also to freely speak about and live out your religious convictions and beliefs. Far from being incidental, religious beliefs are an inherent part of human dignity. No one should ever be forced to choose between obeying the state (with penalties and sanctions if you do not), or God (with potentially eternal consequences if you do not). The history of the Church shows that – if faced with such a choice – sincere Christians will choose to die rather than to disobey God.
A well-organised global strategy
The reality is that there is a consistent, well-organised, and well-funded global strategy to erode (and even eradicate) religious freedom rights that were formerly considered to be sacrosanct. Secular ideologies, often diametrically opposed to Judeo-Christian conservative values, have brought this battle to our doorstep. Increasingly, Government policy, laws, and court judgements favour secular, liberal views over conservative, religious views – which are increasingly seen as “fundamentalist” or “politically incorrect”.
Who is FOR SA?
Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) was formed in 2014 as a direct result of this trend, and after the South African Human Rights Commission investigated and sanctioned a local church for preaching and teaching scriptures that they regarded as “offensive” and out of step with the Constitution. Although FOR SA’s team unashamedly consists of Christians, the organisation is both faith and doctrinally neutral. We stand up for the rights of people of all faiths (or even no faith), because we believe that every individual has the right to choose what – and how – they believe.
Lots to do in this country!
FOR SA has been engaged in numerous issues and has protected religious freedom before Government, Parliament, Chapter 9 institutions, and the courts. We have successfully opposed attempts to impose state regulation of religion. We defended parental rights and helped to thwart Government’s imposition of controversial and liberal comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in public schools. We helped set a vital legal precedent that confirmed that religious observances may still take place in public schools, and are currently involved in a court case to protect independent faith-based schools. We have protected freedom of religious speech and the freedom of organisations and persons of faith to live out their religion. In another court case, we are challenging the Government’s lockdown restrictions that unfairly discriminate against the religious community. Most recently, FOR SA is opposing the draconian PEPUDA Amendment Bill, which (if passed in its current form) will drastically impact believers of whatever faith.
Fighting the good fight
FOR SA is keenly aware that religious freedom rights – unless vigorously defended – can be all too easily lost. We therefore remain single-minded in our commitment to protect and promote them, so that faith and freedom are preserved for us and, perhaps more importantly, for our children.
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Date published: 19/06/2021
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only.
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