New Movie Tackles America's Fiery Religious Freedom Battle

Conservative and Christian groups are increasingly turning to the movie industry to spread both religious and political messages -- and Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit legal firm, is no exception.

The group is set to release "Uncommon," its first feature-length film. The movie, which follows a group of high school students who "struggle against political correctness to defend their privilege to worship, meet, and perform," will premiere Feb. 1 at Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va.

The movie, itself, looks at the First Amendment and religious liberty through a conservative lens.

A press release further explains: "'Uncommon' explores the issues surrounding religious liberties in public schools and examines specific questions, such as: Can students pray aloud in their schools? Can students conduct their own Bible studies on school grounds? Can they mention God or wear Christian-themed clothing at their schools?"

Watch the "Uncommon" trailer below:

The central plot presented in the film surrounds fictional Rosewood High School students who face a monumental battle -- a fight to exercise their religious views at their school.

Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver, who makes a cameo playing himself in the film, told TheBlaze that the movie has a great "message of faith, of perseverance and hope."

Through the students' plight, Staver said that there's an important lesson for viewers to learn: that it's essential to press forward against all odds and to make one's life count for something.

"To be uncommon --  just to live your life not as just some common event, but to have faith and persevere against adversity and [to] hope and to really have your life count," he said.

"Uncommon" deals with the contentious issue of religion in public schools. While many conservatives argue that Christians' rights are being trampled in the public sphere, opponents disagree. Staver in his role at Liberty Counsel, though, said that he regularly sees bias firsthand.

"We see the discrimination against Christianity that take place," he said. "There is clearly I think ... two things that happen as a result of why we see this happen. People are unaware of what the law is. People assume that if it's Christian it ought to be censored, then there are others who have a bias against Christianity ... and they are set to censor it."

Image source: Liberty Counsel

Regardless of whether an educator or administrator is aware of the fact that a student's free speech is being censored, Staver said it doesn't matter. Either way, the result is the same: students don't get to exercise their religious rights.

As for "Uncommon," he said the message goes beyond free speech in public schools.

"The message is really not just about schools ... the message is one for young people and really of all ages -- one of faith and hope and perseverance," he added.

"Uncommon" stars actors Erik Estrada, Ben Davies, Irma P. Hall and Christian singer Jason Crabb.

Liberty Counsel is a nonprofit conservative litigation firm that provides pro-bono help to individuals and groups in the midst of fighting battles over religious freedom and issues pertaining to respect for life and the family.

Find out more about the film here.

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Featured image via Liberty Counsel