When the US Constitution was presented to the 13 states for ratification, not everybody was happy with it. The general public was concerned because the Constitution did not contain enough specific language guaranteeing the protection of the rights of citizens, and several states refused to ratify until they were promised that a Bill of Rights would be included. The first 10 Amendments; the Bill of Rights was added to fulfill that promise. The first constitutional right in the First Amendment protects the freedom of worship for American citizens. Somebody must have thought it was important.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”
The “establishment clause” prohibits instituting an official state religion. For instance, Islam is the state religion of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia. In the United Kingdom, Anglicanism is the official religion of England, while Calvinism is the state religion of Scottland. China is atheist, and Thailand is Buddhist. [1]
Many of the original 13 Colonies, were originally settled by various Christian groups that fled war and persecution in their native lands. Consequently, people in the 13 States feared that the government might choose one of those faiths as an official religion and then persecute the others. Hence, the establishment clause.
By prohibiting interference by the government in the free exercise of a citizen’s religion the First Amendment guarantees that every American will have the freedom to worship as they please. As with any other constitutional right, no American is allowed to practice their religion in ways that interfere with the constitutional rights of other citizens, and as William Shakespeare put it, “… ay, there’s the rub.” (Hamlet’s Soliloquy, Act 3, Scene 1) [2]
By safeguarding the rights of one group the government may need to interfere in the with another group’s constitutional rights. These disputes sometimes result in court battles that make the lawyers rich, or they give Congress an excuse to write more laws. More recently, each successive President has issued executive orders that nullify the executive orders of the previous President.
Although the number of American’s who say they “adhere” or “identify” with Christianity has declined in recent years, a majority (68 percent) [3] still say they are Christians. Consequently, many people regard America as a Christian nation. There was a considerable uproar, therefore, when in a speech to Middle Eastern leaders President Obama announced that the United States was not a Christian country. Although, he was technically correct in the sense that Christianity is not our official religion, the remark was not well received at home.
President Obama’s statement may reveal a Post Colonial bias. The context of his remarks indicates that under his presidency the United States would give up dominating other countries and become more considerate of their needs. Yet, like Critical Race Theory, Post Colonialism teaches that colonizing by European countries is responsible for much of the strife we see in the former colonies today. Further, it claims to show that the exportation of Christianity to these countries by Christian missionaries was destructive to native cultures and ways of life. This point of view has been taught in our schools and universities for years, and I believe it is responsible, in part, for the growth in anti-Christian bias and Antisemitism in American society today.
So much has been said about the separation of church and state that some people have gotten the mistaken impression that it is in the Constitution. It is not. However, some pastors and church leaders have refrained from making political statements from the pulpit for fear of losing tax exempt status for their organizations.
Atheist organizations have sued to have the Ten Commandments, the Cross, and other religious symbols like the Menorah removed from schools and parks; or even private property if they are in public view. Their claim is that they are entitled to freedom from religion, and that this takes precedence over the freedom of speech or religious expression. We "people of faith" disagree.
In spite of some reports to the contrary, over the recent years the incidence of acts of religious persecution is growing more frequent. Recently, Anti-ICE demonstrators invaded and occupied Cities Church in St. Paul, MN, and other Evangelical Protestant churches have been firebombed or set on fire. Two children were killed and 17 were wounded in a Catholic church in Minneapolis when a shooter fired through a window last August. Traditional Protestant churches have been burglarized or vandalized in Denver, CO, Billings, MT, and Boston, MA. [4] Black churches have been vandalized and burned for years. Reports vary, but several sources reported over 400 acts of vandalism against churches in the United States in 2023, and again in 2024. [5]
For at least 70 years, American Jewish synagogues have been attacked with hand grenades, bombs, gunfire, and arson. There have been incidents of Jews being beaten up on our streets. People have been killed, wounded, and taken hostage. [6]
Freedom isn’t free. If one civil right can be violated, they all can. A constitutional right not used is forfeit. Some of our fellow Christians, and our Jewish friends, are paying a dear price for the freedom to worship as they choose.
In the USA, you are free to follow Islam, the Budda, Krishna, Jesus Christ or any other of the many religious faiths – as long as you let others worship as they choose in peace. In the end, God will decide if you got it right … not other people. Be sure you have got it right. (John 14:6) We are free to talk with others who are willing to listen about the reasons we believe as we do. We are not free to burn, beat, or kill other people who do not agree with us.
The midterm elections will be here before we know it. Let’s not get so lost in worrying about the economy, foreign policy, or immigration that we lose sight of other important issues. Get out and vote for candidates who will protect our freedom of religion - from each other and from government interference. *
* In the interest of brevity, I didn't go into the many ways our government has tried to interfere with our ability to worship as we please. Let's just say that we do not need politicians like James Talarico of Texas interpreting (erroneously) what the Holy Bible says. We need elected officials who will protect us from government interference in matters of faith and practice.
