Freedom of Religion Interpretation?

Question

What do you think our fore fathers meant by "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof" I am in 7th grade and I'm writing a paper for my civics class. Please post real thoughts on what you think about this issue. Thanks!

Actually, we are supposed to describe our thoughts on the subject and to see what others thought about the subject themselves, and thank you to all the people who are not idiots and gave me a truthful answer!

Answer 1

Britain has an established church, which means it is the official church of the country and is paid for through a tax paid by everyone, regardless of what their faith is. The Founding Fathers didn't want that form of tyranny here in the US, so they banned the establishment of a religion.

They further made it unconstitutional for the government to try and interfere with a church. In other words, if the Southern Baptists were to elect an avowed neo-Nazi as their president (which I hasten to add is NOT the case...I had to use SOMEONE as an example), there's not a darned thing the gov't could do about it.

Lastly, and most importantly: many will trumpet something about the famous (or infamous, depending on your view) "Wall of separation between Church and State". This is nowhere to be found in the Constitution. It comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Baptist Association of Danbury, CT. In it, Jefferson does indeed use the phrase, but more to butress the idea that the Baptists should rest easy regarding any attempt to quell their freedoms in a state like Connecticut, which DID have an established church (the Congregationalists) at the time.

EDIT: I see some whacko has given me a thumbs down. It never fails when one writes something utterly factual which doesn't fit with their view of how things ought to be.

Answer 2

Just to clarify, no one ever said that the words "Wall of Separation" were in the Constitution. What Jefferson said was that the EFFECT and INTENT of the First Amendment was to create that wall of separation.

It always was and was always claimed to be a handy, accurate DESCRIPTIVE phrase, not a literal "these are the exact words" one. There are plenty of rights laid out in the Constitution that can be described in a number of ways. The fact that a particular exact phrase isn't there doesn't mean that the particular phrase isn't dead-on.

I have the right to vote for whomever I prefer in elections, and that's guaranteed by the Constitution. You won't find that exact phrase in there anywhere.

That reasoning is obtuse.

In any case, if you want a good research site, here's one with a lot of actual historical, factual backup to it -

Answer 3

Freedom of religion means that the government will not adopt a national religion and will not make projects that will benefit or favor a religion. It also includes that any person can choose what religion they want and the choice of not joining any religious group.

Answer 4

the gov can't support any religion
and they can't go against any religion

thus people have freedom of religion. there are no laws that force people to give up any religious practices and laws that infringe on religion are revised.

for instance you can't kill an animal- but you can sacrifice one in a religious cerimony as long as it is done humanly and cleanly.

this way gov isn't control by religion
religion isn't held back by the gov
and both can reach their full potential

when religion and gov are interwined both legal and religious law are questioned by the other.

for christians: Jesus said a woman could divorce her husband if he cheated and he said there shouldn't be any wars
gov leaders from theocracies have opposed these tenets from law
(religion is held back)

and if a gov wants to give everyone equal treatment with blind justice- but religion says we aren't all created equal
(gov can't achieve its full potential)

Answer 5

Participant "information_police" pretty much nailed it for you.

"It means that government can neither show favor to any religion or prevent anyone from practicing their religion."

That means we embrace all religions and hinder none. All are "equal" in the USA.

That also means that Protestantism is NOT the "designated state religion," and it should not receive any special privileges over any other.

He also said,"There are limits to this of course."

When over-zealous "Christians" (or any other religion for that matter) cross over the line from "witnessing" to "harassment," it is the duty of the judicial system to explain to them where the line is.

They are free to "worship;" they are NOT free to harass and be a pain in the butt, invading your personal space and getting in your face like some drill sergeant.

Answer 6

It is so the government can not pose a particular religion upon the people. It gives people the freedom to choose whatever religion they want.

Answer 7

It means that government can neither show favor to any religion or prevent anyone from practicing their religion.

There are limits to this of course. If your religion causes you to do harm to someone else (or withold medical care from your children) the government can stop you.

Answer 8

our founding fathers wisely wrote in the separation of church and state, so that people did not confuse the cross with the sword, because America was not founded on the theology of religion, America was founded by those trying to escape theologies.

Answer 9

It means the government shall not involve itself in your choice to practice any religion or my choice to practice none.

Answer 10

This is no place for a 7th grader. There are very bad people here. Go to the HISTORY board.