Freedom of Worship (1943)

Freedom of Worship (1943)
Will Durant
This little church is the first and final symbol of America. For men came across the sea not merely to find new soil for their plows but to win freedom for their souls, to think and speak and worship as they would. This is the freedom men value most of all; for this they have borne countless persecutions and fought more bravely than for food or gold. These men coming out of their chapel-what is the finest thing about them, next to their undiscourageable life? It is that they do not demand that others should worship as they do, or even that others should worship at all. In that waving valley are some who have not come to this service. It is not held against them; mutely these worshipers understand that faith takes many forms, and that men name with diverse words the hope that in their hearts is one.
It is astonishing and inspiring that after all the bloodshed of history this land should house in fellowship a hundred religions and a hundred doubts. This is with us an already ancient heritage; and because we knew such freedom of worship from our birth, we took it for granted and expected it of all mature men. Until yesterday the whole civilized world seemed secure in that liberty.
-In explaining U.S. involvement in World War II, the kinds of threats to America implied by Durant

A) ultimately led the United States to enter World War II.
B) were secondary to a direct military attack on the United States.
C) played no role in the American war effort at home or abroad.
D) diminished the support of ethnic groups in the United States for the war effort.