Set a Good Example Day: A Call to Defend Religious Freedom
Since I was a child I’ve heard the now hackneyed phrase “actions speak louder than words,” often when I’d failed to do something I said I would. And while there was some truth to the comment—I should have done what I said I would!—the saying never really penetrated or changed my view.
Today, nearly six decades later, a positive, more powerful spin on that principle is celebrated annually on February 26th, “Set a Good Example Day.”
“Others around one cannot help but be influenced by this, no matter what they say.” —L. Ron Hubbard
The premise is simple, and is based on precept #6 of L. Ron Hubbard’s common sense guide to better living, The Way to Happiness, which reads: “There are many people one influences. The influence can be good or it can be bad.
“If one conducts his life to keep these recommendations, one is setting a good example.”
“Others around one cannot help but be influenced by this, no matter what they say,” Mr. Hubbard continued. “Don’t discount the effect you can achieve on others simply by mentioning these things and setting a good example in your own right.”
This principle applies in personal ways. In the family, the example that parents demonstrate in their behavior has a far greater influence on their children than the words they say but do not live by. Children, too, have a role to play in setting a good example for their siblings.
But the principle extends far beyond the personal realm. History shows that actions can set powerful societal examples, for better or worse. When leaders model intolerance or oppression, the consequences ripple outward. The blast radius for religious bigotry, for example, is never limited to just the out-of-favor or targeted faiths—it spills over into other people and groups, impeding their survival, too. Conversely, when leaders defend principles like religious freedom, their actions can shape culture, law and even national identity.
In 1598, the Edict of Nantes granted religious freedom to French Protestants, the Huguenots, after decades of violent religious conflict in a Catholic-majority country. But when King Louis XIV of France revoked it in 1685, the message was clear: religious uniformity would be enforced, and dissent would not be tolerated.
The consequences were catastrophic. Protestant churches were destroyed, worship was banned and many were forced to convert or flee. Local authorities and the military carried out the destruction with no opposition from the Catholic church or the people. A wave of anti-Protestant sentiment engulfed the country and the damage didn’t stop with the Huguenots. Hundreds of thousands of skilled workers, merchants and professionals were driven to emigrate, directly weakening France’s social structure and economy.
History also demonstrates the power of setting a good example when leaders defend religious freedom.
Roger Williams founded the colony of Rhode Island in the 17th century at a time when religious conformity was enforced by law and dissent was frequently punished. Williams believed that civil government had no authority over an individual’s conscience.
By strictly limiting government to civil matters with no authority to punish religious offenses like “false worship,” Rhode Island became a refuge for those fleeing religious persecution, including Quakers, Baptists and Jews. People of all faiths were free to worship according to their convictions without fear of government punishment or coercion. That example became a cornerstone of American political thought and later found expression in the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious liberty.
But you don’t have to found a colony or take center stage in the sometimes contentious debates about religious freedom. You can set a good example by speaking out when you hear disparaging comments about the dress, the look or the customs of any faith. You can also visit churches, synagogues and temples in your community and talk with their members. Seek out their charity events and volunteer your time. Even a few hours can have a lasting impact and sets a great example.
By respecting freedom of conscience, we create space for meaningful dialogue and for a richer appreciation of how others understand life, faith and the divine.
Set a Good Example Day is a call for each of us to contribute to a better world. When it comes to religious freedom, I invite you to start with something simple: Visit one church in your neighborhood that you’ve never visited before. Start a respectful conversation with a neighbor about what their faith means to them. Or volunteer alongside members of a different faith community at a local charity.
In doing so, you affirm a simple but powerful truth: The example you set today can help shape the freedoms we all enjoy tomorrow.
