Religion: Seven Freedoms

At his White House desk, President Eisenhower last week signed a Declaration of Freedom drawn up by the fundamentalist National Association of Evangelicals and based on “seven divine freedoms” found in the 23rd Psalm. The seven:

¶ Freedom from Want: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

¶ Freedom from Hunger: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.”

¶ Freedom from Thirst: “He leadeth me beside the still waters.”

¶ Freedom from Sin: “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

¶ Freedom from Fear: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

¶ Freedom from Enemies: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.”

¶ Freedom to Live Abundantly: “Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”