In authoring the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1779, Thomas Jefferson created the legal precedent for a fundamental American principle, enshrined in the First Amendment: freedom of religion. Yet the implications of religious freedom have created complexities and ambiguities that continue to impact American society.

This panel discussion included Charlottesville Clergy Collective secretary and Baptist minister, Dr. Michael Cheuk, and Associate Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, attorney Holly Hollman. Moderated by Monticello historian John Ragosta, this livestream discussed the ideal of religious freedom and how it intersects with social movements and legal doctrine today.