What does Freedom of Religion mean ?
As an American citizen truly understanding this question could save you a lot of time and money.
In the First and Fourteenth Amendment there is Reference to a particular freedom that most citizens have been led to believe means something far different than it's actual intended meaning, and original purpose. It's a freedom that when it is applied as intended provides us as citizens a much better chance at surviving the conflicts they are building. This “Right” can be both used as an individual or as a community. How can it save you time, or money you ask ? Well I'm glad you did. The answer to that is both very simple, and quite complex. So let's break it down in relatable terms.
First, what does the Constitution say our “Right” to Religious Freedom is ?
This part of the First Amendment is actually quite plainly worded. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" The significant part is after the or, where it says “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. Meaning plainly that the government can not prohibit the free exercise of whatever your religious practices may be. It's fairly simple, if your Religion is Norse or Germanic for instance you have the “Right” to self sustain on your own land, so that you do not have to depend on others for things that you can easily produce yourself. Period. You can grow your food and medicinal plants like corn, or cannabis. You can store rainwater or even collect and store Solar, or Wind energy for later. That is all included under the right to self sustain as a Religious Freedom. The Stanzas in the Havamal that reference the right to self sustain are 36 - 37. In them it states that it's better to have a meager hut and a scrawny goat of your own than to beg a place to sleep, or a meal from elsewhere. That is but one basic example, of which there are hundreds.
Why are so many pagan practices outlawed ?
The simple answer is profit. Alcohol prohibition is a shining example of this. Many people are still unsure as to why prohibition even started. Some say it was just because of religiously prude, and conservative Catholics. Others say it was christians. The truth of it was much darker, the lobbyists for Pharmaceutical companies, and the up and coming Oil tycoons of the time were aware that home distilled antiseptics and fuel would hurt their profits greatly. If a person could make 10 gallons of fuel from just their lawn clippings every week why would they constantly buy gasoline. They could also use the same methods for making antiseptics, mouthwash, rubbing alcohol etc. etc. They used the religious front, by making it seem like their opinion was a majority simply by putting it in radio broadcasts, and in the headlines almost daily. Doing this they were able to convince the nation it was the “popular opinion” until they were able to make it law with very little resistance. The same thing can be said for the Hemp and Cannabis industry. It was a food source, that was also medicinal and used to make plastics, textiles, and rope. This plant was used for 10,000+ years by humanity and was also the original cash crop of the newly founded country of America.
This plants versatility, and history on nearly every continent has caused a modern movement to fight for the right to legally grow and possess it again, but it's only a tiny part of a huge trend. One where the rogue profit driven government has slowly banned and outlawed nearly every aspect of self sustaining.
Doesn't the 14th Amendment protect us from States doing the same thing ?
It should do that and more actually. The 14th Amendment also states that, “no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” Also, stating (ratified in 1868) that it “requires states to guarantee fundamental rights such as the First Amendment's prohibition against the establishment of religion.” This tells us that the states have been just as busy taking money from corporations and then prohibiting, banning, and outlawing things that are protected Religious Freedoms. Some states even going so far as to require you to pay a corporation or pharmaceutical company for things you can collect, grow, or produce right at home.
How are they continuing to violate Your religious freedom to this day ?
Look at Florida and the power company Florida Power and Light, you have to pay them for solar energy that you collect and store yourself, on a house that you paid for, using solar panels you paid for, and that's then stored in batteries that you paid for, and taxed on also. Then it has to be hooked up to a meter, and regulated so that they can charge you for the suns energy. This is clearly unconstitutional, and a violation of the rights of all Floridians. It is allowed to continue simply because FPL donates to all of the politicians involved in the decision making behind these policies. This is no different than telling people that they have the right to use a plant medicinally because it's proven effective, but only if you buy it from one of these approved but very expensive stores. If it's a plant that's proven medicinal, why can't I grow my own ? There is no good legal answer for the state stopping you from doing this, especially if it's your religious right to self sustain. I'm currently forced to buy my medication from a local dispensary, because otherwise I would be arrested, and detained, and then sentenced and heavily fined by the state for growing a plant that I'm now legally allowed to have. The mental gymnastics alone in trying to understand the logic are enough to cause Anxiety in anyone.
The bottom line is simply this.
The First and Fourteenth Amendments clearly grant us Rights, and Freedoms to practice our religions. The Federal, and State governments are openly abusing those rights for profit. We have to simply take our rights back. In no way am I suggesting that anyone should break state or federal laws. What I am suggesting to everyone, is that they must simply continue to practice their faith, but begin to exercise their rights, and stand up and fight if they are violated. In the sources I am going to add several organizations, groups, and individuals that are fighting to keep these rights intact.
This is a movement that I stand behind 100%. As the Elder Member of a Tribe I am fighting for these freedoms for our Tribe, and all other tribes, and solo practitioners without a voice.
First I want to Thank Mr. Barry W. Lynn of the Supreme Court Bar and a leader with America United, he has been fighting for our rights in and out of court for decades, and has been the spearhead of the Movement for Religious Freedom.
https://www.youtube.com/live/RrYAuyumnRc?feature=share
Sources for Assistance, and organizations fighting for Pagan Religious Rights -
This Author: J. Ash Odinsson https://buy.stripe.com/7sIbIK0JSb1fb6M3cd
Barry W. Lynn:
https://www.barrywlynn.com/
The A.U. (Americans United): https://www.au.org/#
The Tribe of the Greyhorn Pagans: https://www.greyhornpagans.com/
Wicca: Wicca, Pagan, Goddess Info | Wiccan Supplies | Celtic Connection https://wicca.com/
https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/
#Pagan #Heathen #ReligiousFreedom #ReligiousRights #Religion #Wicca #Wiccan #Norse #Germanic #Celtic #Vedic #Slavic #Scythian #Cannabis #MMJ #420 #Homestead #Homesteading #SelfSustaining
Too true. What I find fascinating is that were I to strictly adhere to my own belief that money is an evil, corrupting influence - were I to refuse having it, dealing with it - my property would be seized and I would lose my freedom. The government has established a coercive and inescapable religion - one that sanctifies money.
I'd like to disagree with only one sentence in this post, with all due respect, of course.
"The First and Fourteenth Amendments clearly grant us Rights, and Freedoms to practice our religions."
It's patently not based in fact as, the original framers of The Constitution were writing The Bill of Rights and had intended for each amendment moving forward to guarantee protections to natural rights with which we're born. It's not intended to grant because the framers understood that any government that has the ability to grant rights can take them away.
In this, the framers of our Constitution were clear, the amendments were written as a restraint on government, a clear warning of "keep your hands to yourself lest you lose them in the process" and being that this is the supreme law of the land, the SCOTUS would have to rule as such (re: Marbury v. Madison) that any law, codified or not, that is repugnant to the Constitution is null and void.
Everything else in the article? *huge thumbs up*