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The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has two distinct clauses relating to religion, and they both protect different rights. First, it says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" - this means that the federal government cannot set an official religion of the United States (which is what it means to "establish" a religion). This was meant to prevent the government being unduly influenced by the religious beliefs of one particular faith, and to prevent it from becoming entangled in religion, which the founders believed to be essentially a private matter. This clause has been interpreted by the Supreme Court very broadly - it means that the government can't even do anything that favors one religion over any other.

The second clause says "or prevent the free exercise thereof" - this means that, in addition to not establishing an official state religion, the government cannot prevent individuals from practicing their chosen religion, whatever it may be. However, there are some limits on this protection. For example, if your religion requires you to take illegal drugs, or to sacrifice animals in violation of local laws, those laws can still be enforced against you, as long as they were meant to be applied generally, and were not passed with the express purpose of preventing religious practices (for example, laws against drug use apply to everyone, not just people who want to take drugs for their religious rites, so they do not run afoul of religious freedom).

Together, these 2 clauses protect what is broadly known as "freedom of religion" and "separation of church and state"

Freedom of religion means, you can believe whatever religion you want and not even government can control your beliefs.

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14y ago
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13y ago

You have the freedom to practice any religion. In other words, freedom of religion.

The 5th amendment is very specific in that it addresses freedom of religion which is why this country was founded. Religious oppression was why many fled to these shores in the first place and still do today. Govements ruled the church and the relationship of church and government became a power hungry self serving goal.

Some have and still do try and twist that statement to say freedom from religion trying to destroy the very foundation of the forming of this country. This country was founded on God as the head and his word, The Bible, as the truth on which our laws and government were founded and governed.

The attempt to throw that foundation out because it does not suit the carnal nature of man to do as he pleases, has been a major down fall to our moderrn day society where our basic respect for each other and our nation as a whole has been depleted and people wonders how we got to this point.

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6y ago

Citizens can choose their own religion from from government involvement

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11y ago

Belief system.

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Q: What does the term religion mean under the first amendment?
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Related questions

In the First Amendment, what does it mean to have freedom of religion?

Citizens can choose their own religion free from government involvement.


If First Amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion do prisons have to provide religious programs?

No. Exercise does not mean that the state must provide it.


What rights does the First Amendment mean?

The First Amendment prohibits government (federal, state, or local) from making laws regarding the establishment of religion, interfering with the free exercise of religion, limiting the freedom of speech, interfering with the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceable assembly, or prohibiting the petitioning the government for a redress of grievances. Provided, the peace is not breached by any of these actions, and the rights of others are not violated in the process.


Freedom from religion of speech of the press and of assembly are guaranteed by the?

It is a right under the first amendment to the US constitution.What freedom from religion does mean, however, is the freedom from the rules and dogmas of other people’s religious beliefs so that we can be free to follow the demands of our own conscience, whether they take a religious form or not. Thus, we have both freedom of religion and freedom from religion because they are two sides of the same coin.Many people don’t realize — or don’t care — that real religious liberty must exist for everyone, not just for themselves.


What does the first amendmet mean?

the first amendment insures the freedom of speech


Which amendment to the Constitution protects the freedom of the press?

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution garantees "freedom of speech" and "freedom of the press." This amendment was one of the original ten amendments that make up the Bill of Rights and were added to the Constitution before it was even ratified by the states. The First Amendment does protect the press from censorship, but that does not mean that the press can print whatever they wish to print. The government is able to censor the press if the press is going to publish some information that would be a threat to national security. An example of such a thing that the government would be allowed to censor would be if the press was going to print the codes to release the nuclear bombs that the U.S. government has. However, this is an extreme example and it is only in very rare cases that the government needs to utilize this power. The major gaurantee that the press has from their protection under the First Amendment is that they can say bad things about politicians and the government in gerenal (as long as it does not fall under libel or slander), without being punished by the government for their actions.


What does the word slander mean in the first amendment?

The word slander isn't in the first amendment but the definition is a malicious, false, and defamatory statement.


What does amendment one mean?

The First Amendment state's a person's basic rights to live in the United States of America


When did roman officially recognized Christianity?

If you mean an official religion, Christianity was made a legitimate religion in 313 AD after the Edict of Milan. If you mean the official religion of the Roman empire, it was in 380 AD under Theodosius I.If you mean an official religion, Christianity was made a legitimate religion in 313 AD after the Edict of Milan. If you mean the official religion of the Roman empire, it was in 380 AD under Theodosius I.If you mean an official religion, Christianity was made a legitimate religion in 313 AD after the Edict of Milan. If you mean the official religion of the Roman empire, it was in 380 AD under Theodosius I.If you mean an official religion, Christianity was made a legitimate religion in 313 AD after the Edict of Milan. If you mean the official religion of the Roman empire, it was in 380 AD under Theodosius I.If you mean an official religion, Christianity was made a legitimate religion in 313 AD after the Edict of Milan. If you mean the official religion of the Roman empire, it was in 380 AD under Theodosius I.If you mean an official religion, Christianity was made a legitimate religion in 313 AD after the Edict of Milan. If you mean the official religion of the Roman empire, it was in 380 AD under Theodosius I.If you mean an official religion, Christianity was made a legitimate religion in 313 AD after the Edict of Milan. If you mean the official religion of the Roman empire, it was in 380 AD under Theodosius I.If you mean an official religion, Christianity was made a legitimate religion in 313 AD after the Edict of Milan. If you mean the official religion of the Roman empire, it was in 380 AD under Theodosius I.If you mean an official religion, Christianity was made a legitimate religion in 313 AD after the Edict of Milan. If you mean the official religion of the Roman empire, it was in 380 AD under Theodosius I.


What does amendment one mean today?

The first amendment state's a person's basic rights to live in the United States of America


How is the media protected?

Based on the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution, the media meaning to mean the news media is protected by the freedom of speech clause in the First Amendment. This also protects everyone from censure by the government.


What does it mean to find a radical group website and find law enforcement operations and tactics that warn its adherents to be aware of?

It means that they are practicing their rights protected under the First Amendment to the US Constitution.