Are atheists protected by the first amendment?

Answer 1

Of course they are. First Amendment rights of the individual in America are not based in any way on the individual's religious beliefs or lack thereof. For example, atheists absolutely have freedom of speech and are protected from a state mandated religion.

Answer:

The amendment prohibits:

• the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion
• impeding the free exercise of religion
• abridging the freedom of speech
• infringing on the freedom of the press
• interfering with the right to peaceably assemble
• prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Some fundamentalist groups maintain that the first two points of the amendment applies only to religion, and, as atheists state they are not a religion, they can be banned or legislated against. Most people hold that this is not the intent of the sections.

Answer 2

The six million members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) who live in the United States are protected by the first amendment, because the Constitution and it's amendments apply to all Americans.

The eight million Mormons who do not live in the United States are not protected by the first amendment, because they are not Americans.