--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: President Obama understands that, as a…" description: "\"President Obama understands that, as a nation founded by those who fled religious persecution, freedom of religion is central to who we are as American..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/denis-mcdonough-39368_creator_president-obama-understands-that-as-a-na_852241.jpg" --- # President Obama understands that, as a nation founded by… ![“President Obama understands that, as a nation founded by those who fled religious persecution, freedom of religion is central to who we are as Americans. Our rights are not given to us by government, they are endowed by our Creator.” quote by Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/denis-mcdonough-39368_creator_president-obama-understands-that-as-a-na_852241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/denis-mcdonough-39368_creator_president-obama-understands-that-as-a-na_852241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/denis-mcdonough-39368_creator_president-obama-understands-that-as-a-na_852241.jpg) > “President Obama understands that, as a nation founded by those who fled religious persecution, freedom of religion is central to who we are as Americans. Our rights are not given to us by government, they are endowed by our Creator.” [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America’s foundation on fleeing persecution makes religious freedom central, granted by a creator, not government. **In simple terms:** Religious freedom is core to America, given by a creator. Key Takeaway Protect liberty as a divine right. Themes freedom identity founding rights Mood respectful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - court cases - educational programs - interfaith dialogues Key Concepts theology constitutional law civil rights Questions to Reflect On - How to honor diverse beliefs in policy? - What limits exist on religious expression? A Different Perspective Balancing secular law with divine claims can be contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-rights-762664/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-religion/) [Freedom Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-religion/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution/) [Persecution Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution-freedom-762663/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-obama/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-persecution/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-given-762665/) [Who we are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-we-are/) ## Related quotes > [Although here - Los Angeles 2014 - we can have a lighthearted movie about romance and living your life without persecution, that freedom does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-adam-hamilton/although-here-los-angeles-2014-we-can-have-a-lighthearted-movie-about/) [Michael Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-adam-hamilton/) > [“Boom!” The thunder of a massive explosion rolled across the settlement. Maria’s sobbing came from the bedroom. Irina ran to her daughter. “They’ve blown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/boom-the-thunder-of-a-massive-explosion-rolled-across-the-settlement/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In March 1947, he publicly condemned the abolition of religion in all schools, warning that, “promising freedom of religion while creating institutions of irreligiousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/in-march-1947-he-publicly-condemned-the-abolition-of-religion-in-all/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [“just as America was the first modern land where people could practice freedom of religion, perhaps someday America will be a place where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/just-as-america-was-the-first-modern-land-where-people-could-practice/) [Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/) > [The price of freedom of religion or of speech or of the press is that we must put up with, and even pay for,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-jackson/the-price-of-freedom-of-religion-or-of-speech-or-of-the-press-is-that/) [Robert H. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-jackson/) > [The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-framers-of-our-constitution-meant-we-were-to-have-freedom-of/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [ “The \[Apache\] tribe was under siege by government agents, who had jailed some of the medicine men for practicing their rituals. Freedom of religion… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-egan/the-apache-tribe-was-under-siege-by-government-agents-who-had-jailed/) [Timothy Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-egan/) > [Israel can't be the only country in the Western world not to have freedom of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-lapid/israel-can-t-be-the-only-country-in-the-western-world-not-to-have/) [Yair Lapid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-lapid/) > [Neither the wording of the amendment itself nor common practice challenged the widely held belief that government guaranteed freedom of religion, not freedom from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-chavez/neither-the-wording-of-the-amendment-itself-nor-common-practice/) [Linda Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-chavez/) > [The freedom to convert is fundamental to freedom of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-inglis/the-freedom-to-convert-is-fundamental-to-freedom-of-religion/) [Bob Inglis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-inglis/) > [Religious freedom does not mean freedom from religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/religious-freedom-does-not-mean-freedom-from-religion/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Everyone claims to be okay with freedom of religion, but the moment you mention God there is a strange tension that fills the air.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/everyone-claims-to-be-okay-with-freedom-of-religion-but-the-moment/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [I am an Iranian by birth and of my Islamic faith. I am also an American Citizen and I seek to help change America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-am-an-iranian-by-birth-and-of-my-islamic-faith-i-am-also-an/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Those who accept freedom of religion as a right are obligated by this acceptance to take the maintenance of freedom of religion as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-leon-blau/those-who-accept-freedom-of-religion-as-a-right-are-obligated-by-this/) [Joseph Leon Blau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-leon-blau/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Denis McDonough > [Before we announced Judge Merric Garland, people were saying they would not even deign to meet with him. And we're also aware that early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/before-we-announced-judge-merric-garland-people-were-saying-they/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [I'm indebted to the teachers who shaped me - from the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Croix Catholic elementary to the monks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/i-m-indebted-to-the-teachers-who-shaped-me-from-the-sisters-of-st/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [Sunday afternoons at a parish center - or a community center - is familiar territory for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/sunday-afternoons-at-a-parish-center-or-a-community-center-is/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [We've seen some good progress, some good forward momentum. We have about Republican senators who have now indicated that they'll meet with Judge Merric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/we-ve-seen-some-good-progress-some-good-forward-momentum-we-have/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [ We're happy to see, obviously, the resounding support for Judge \[Merric\] Garland, an unbelievable - unbelievably strong, unquestioned excellence as a judge for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/we-re-happy-to-see-obviously-the-resounding-support-for-judge-merric/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [I grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota in a proud Catholic family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/i-grew-up-in-stillwater-minnesota-in-a-proud-catholic-family/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [Being religious is quintessentially American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/being-religious-is-quintessentially-american/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [The bottom line is this. When it comes to preventing violent extremism and terrorism in the United States, Muslim Americans are not part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/the-bottom-line-is-this-when-it-comes-to-preventing-violent-extremism/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [Preventing radicalization that leads to violence here in America is part of our larger strategy to decisively defeat al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/preventing-radicalization-that-leads-to-violence-here-in-america-is/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) > [As a husband, father and public servant, I'm thankful for the counsel and wisdom of my older brothers - Bill, who was a priest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-mcdonough/as-a-husband-father-and-public-servant-i-m-thankful-for-the-counsel/) [Denis McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) [Explore all 11 Denis McDonough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-mcdonough/) ## More Creator quotes > [It seems an insult to nature and to the Creator to imagine that pregnancy was ever intended to be a sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-bisbee-duffey/it-seems-an-insult-to-nature-and-to-the-creator-to-imagine-that/) [Eliza Bisbee Duffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-bisbee-duffey/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [The creator of the universe works in mysterious ways. But he uses a base ten counting system and likes round numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-creator-of-the-universe-works-in-mysterious-ways-but-he-uses-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [every being is unique.god neva creates carbon copies,he alys creates originals.he is truly a creator.he neva repeats.but man goes on living in imitation.we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-being-is-unique-god-neva-creates-carbon-copies-he-alys-creates/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Creativity finds its own creator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girish-kohli/creativity-finds-its-own-creator/) [Girish Kohli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girish-kohli/) > [From the 1990s onward, the financial sector created a vast array of instruments designed to separate investors from their money, financial derivatives of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-casti/from-the-1990s-onward-the-financial-sector-created-a-vast-array-of/) [John L. Casti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-casti/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [Changing is not just changing the things outside of us. First of all we need the right view that transcends all notions including of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/changing-is-not-just-changing-the-things-outside-of-us-first-of-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The goal of the Creator is for each entity to make a conscious choice to again seek Oneness, out of our own free will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilcock/the-goal-of-the-creator-is-for-each-entity-to-make-a-conscious-choice/) [David Wilcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilcock/) > [ John \[Coltrane\] was like a visitor to this planet. He came in peace and he left in peace; but during his time here, he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ayler/john-coltrane-was-like-a-visitor-to-this-planet-he-came-in-peace-and/) [Albert Ayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ayler/) > [“If God were the doer, when will there be an end?! (If) God is the creator and he made us, we become his toys,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-god-were-the-doer-when-will-there-be-an-end-if-god-is-the-creator/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Sometimes you get the sense that the Creator is getting to that point of "Yeah, we might have to reboot."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/sometimes-you-get-the-sense-that-the-creator-is-getting-to-that-point/) [Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/) > [My wish for humanity is to invent a way to communicate between us and whatever comes next. And in the end that we the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/my-wish-for-humanity-is-to-invent-a-way-to-communicate-between-us-and/) [Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/) [Browse all 2,158 Creator quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "President Obama understands that, as a nation founded by those who fled religious persecution, freedom of religion is central to who we are as Americans. 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