Big tech, not gov't overreach, poses biggest threat to religious liberty in 2024 and beyond, legal experts warn
Despite Supreme Court victories, Evangelicals facing uncertain post-election future
2024 and beyond
After the Dobbs decision, Kennedy v. Bremerton, there is a palpable sense among Evangelicals that the U.S. is experiencing a revival of sorts when it comes to religious freedom. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any potential threats on the horizon.
For Farris, that threat doesn’t come from the government, but from Big Tech.
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“I think the biggest threat to religious freedom and freedom of all kinds in this country is actually corporate America,” he said. “The Amazons, the Googles, the Apples, Metta, Facebook, all these people, and big companies.
“Banks are trying to de-bank people that they don't agree with. In fact, they are de-banking people. Insurance companies are turning away people. Corporate America has become the henchmen of the woke agenda and they've been cooperating.”
Faris says a glimpse of this authoritarianism was evident under the COVID-19 regime, which saw many churches shut down and deprived of their First Amendment right to assemble peaceably.
“It's not completely all fixed yet, but it largely went the right direction basically after the pandemic had calmed down enough that people could start being sensible and stop being crazy,” he said. “But the idea that this kind of government excuse for emergencies justifies violating the Constitution, that got into the DNA of certain elements of the country and that's a dangerous element that's going to be going forward.”
So what about next time? What happens when the next pandemic comes and government overreach comes with it?
One of the ways the Church can push back against COVID-19-style restrictions, says Berry, is by understanding, first and foremost, that freedom of religion is the foundation of every other constitutional right we have as Americans.
“Every political issue has at its root a question of morality and therefore a question of what do you believe, right? And why do you believe it? And are you going to have the freedom to continue to believe and advance those ideas in the public sphere?” Berry said. “People in this country need to understand as they go into the election booth, that religious freedom undergirds all of that, right?
“If you take away religious freedom, if the government has the ability to take away your religious freedom, the freedom to believe and live out your beliefs, then they can take away all the other beliefs or rights that you think are important. And so, I think as we head into the election, … people need to not divorce their religion from their political practices and beliefs; they need to be wed together even more tightly.”
And while there are undoubtedly some challenges ahead in 2024 and beyond, Coach Kennedy says when it comes to religious freedom, he’s the most hopeful he’s ever been in his lifetime.
“I'm excited about the possibilities for where we are right now, because this is where I like to live, in a place where you can fight, where you know what the enemy is doing,” he said. “I can't worry about what's going to happen after 2024, but I will fight like hell up to that point. I will fight that good fight. I'm going to keep my faith and I'm going to finish that race.”
Ian M. Giatti is a reporter for The Christian Post and author of BACKWARDS DAD and THE ASSEMBLY ON THE ROCK. He can be reached at: ian.giatti@christianpost.com.
