Question

Explain the two fold understanding of freedom of religion as expressed in the first amendment

Answer 1

First, the government is forbidden to establish a religion, either directly, or indirectly. People are referring to this fact when they use the phrase "separation of church & state." Second, the government is forbidden to interfere with or to regulate religion.

Answer 2

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibits the creation of any law with respect to the official establishment of a religion, which prevents the free practice of it, that reduces freedom of expression, that violates the freedom of the press, that interferes with the right of peaceful assembly or prohibiting requesting compensation for government grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as the first of the ten amendments to the Bill of Rights.

In the United States, with regard to religious freedom, the emphasis is on absolute non-interference of the state in the affairs of a religion.

On the other hand, the United States also protects the religious freedom of the individual. Whether the complete neutrality of the state is actually realized, is controversial in view of the Christian-primed civil-religious elements of American society. For example, the sentence In God we trust is printed or embossed on all US monetary symbols; In public swearing is usually sworn on the Bible - this is not codified, but when an Islamic congresist used the Koran, this was publicly very controversial.