Religion in The United States - Freedom of Religion

Freedom of Religion

Although some New England States continued to use tax money to fund local Congregational churches into the 1830s, the United States was the first nation to have no official state-endorsed religion.

Modeling the provisions concerning religion within the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, the framers of the Constitution rejected any religious test for office, and the First Amendment specifically denied the federal government any power to enact any law respecting either an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise, thus protecting any religious organization, institution, or denomination from government interference. The decision was mainly influenced by European Rationalist and Protestant ideals, but was also a consequence of the pragmatic concerns of minority religious groups and small states that did not want to be under the power or influence of a national religion that did not represent them.

Read more about this topic:  Religion In The United States

Famous quotes containing the words freedom of, freedom and/or religion:

    Freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of person under the protection of habeas corpus, and trial by juries impartially selected. These principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us, and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation.
    Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)

    My country, ‘tis of thee,
    Sweet land of liberty,
    Of thee I sing;
    Land where my fathers died,
    Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
    From every mountain-side
    Let freedom ring!
    Samuel Francis Smith (1808–1895)

    To know a person’s religion we need not listen to his profession of faith but must find his brand of intolerance.
    Eric Hoffer (1902–1983)