The Importance Of The Virginia Statute For Religious Freedom

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, a draft for a bill to establish religious freedom in Virginia, was written by Thomas Jefferson, and was officially passed in 1786. Thomas Jefferson believed that it was a God given right for the new nation to have religious freedom. At the time Jefferson constructed the draft, Baptists in Virginia were facing discrimination and persecution by the Anglicans due to their choice of religion. The Anglicans were the established religion in Virginia, which meant the citizens of Virginia paid taxes in order to support and maintain the Anglican church. A group of elites and the Anglican church held power within Virginia. They felt saw the Baptists, who were continuously gaining converts, as a threat to their establishment. The Baptists needed an advocate to fight for religious freedom, so they could practice their religion without fear of persecution. Therefore, they turned to Thomas Jefferson. The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom demonstrates Jefferson’s support towards religious liberty in Virginia and the separation between church and state.
Jefferson’s bill is divided into three paragraphs. The first paragraph …show more content…
In today’s society, Jefferson would be described as, spiritual but not religious. This means that while Jefferson felt that there was a higher being, he did not follow any particular religion. However, Jefferson played a significant role in the fight for religious freedom in America. This makes me question why Jefferson was such a prominent advocate for religious freedom. Was he simply trying to help religious groups like the Baptist practice their religion without the fear of persecution? Or, was he trying to protect his own freedom to remain untied to any one religious group? Either way, it is hard to imagine living in an America without all the accomplishes Jefferson has made in regards to religious