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Show ytf Oil r' 13 OBVIOUSLY a .weak gesture ges-ture for Americans to assume the role of defenders of religious freedom if the loss of that freedom would not greatly affect their lives. When the first settlers came to these shores, the religious freedom they sought Involved both a negative nega-tive and a positive right. They wanted to be free from' coercion by a dominant religious group whose views they did not share, and also to be free to practice the religion of their own choice. Many Americans Ameri-cans today have clung only to the negative right. It is sometimes said that they have converted freedom of religion into freedom from religion. reli-gion. Inactive Christians would do well to recall the challenging question voiced by Christ: "Why do ye call me Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Often the adherents of larger Churches are put to shame by the zealous activity of members of small sects. Such activity cannot be discounted as mere fanaticism. It Is the outgrowth of deep, strong convictions. It comes from wholehearted whole-hearted dedication to a cause they regard as right. There is no doubt that any religious reli-gious group would be more effective effec-tive if all its members actively supported its program. Its Internal life would be stronger, and It would be able to exercise a more positive posi-tive influence on the community and on the nation. Any religion that Is worth professing is worth practicing. |