Religious freedom is the right to hold and practice a faith, or none, without government interference, and the rule that government does not establish an official religion. The First Amendment is its main source. Courts, Congress, schools, the military, and state and local governments all face questions about it.
People usually bring questions about where the line falls between faith and government. They ask about prayer in public schools, religious exemptions from public rules, and religious accommodation in the military and in medical settings. They also ask how the idea of separation of church and state developed and what it means in court.
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The intersection of religion, prayer, and public education in the United States is an area frequently subject to discussion and misunderstanding. The First Amendment…
