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When the founding generation of the United States were developing the Bill of Rights, freedoms of religion and speech and press and assembly were written into the Constitution. One guarantee which did was discussed by James Madison — but which did not make it into these amendments — was freedom of conscience. The guest on today’s “Faith Under Fire” feature tells us that the founders presumed that personal beliefs and conscience were covered by the freedom of religion.

Dr. Paul Kengor tells Family Life that — amid a “cancel culture” — there are dangers when certain speech and thoughts are considered off-limits. Kengor is the director of the Institute for Faith and Freedom at Grove City College in Pennsylvania gives us the history of free speech and free thought, then discusses the implications of a society which divides itself into ideological factions.

Kengor says individuals and religious groups must be allowed to stand up for their core values, even to those who oppose those positions. He challenges anyone who promotes “diversity and inclusion” to be inclusive in return to other people who have divergent views from theirs.

Paul Kengor is a professor of Political Science at GCC and is the editor of the American Spectator, a magazine and online journal of political and social thought.  “Faith Under Fire” airs Thursdays on the Family Life Noon Report, exploring where Christ, Christians and Culture intersect, overlap, and hopefully seek truth.