Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right that allows individuals or communities to hold, change, or leave their religion or belief, and to practice their religion publicly or privately through worship, teaching, or observance
. It includes the right not to follow any religion at all, often referred to as freedom from religion
. In the United States, freedom of religion is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution, which has two key clauses: the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause
. The Establishment Clause prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or favoring one religion over another, ensuring separation of church and state
. The Free Exercise Clause protects individuals' rights to practice their religion freely, so long as those practices do not violate public morals or laws
. This freedom means that people can live according to their religious beliefs without government interference, including how they pray, dress, or observe religious customs
. It also protects against religious discrimination in workplaces and public services
. Overall, freedom of religion safeguards both the right to believe and the right to act on those beliefs, while preventing government imposition or coercion regarding religion
. In summary, freedom of religion encompasses:
- The right to believe or not believe in any religion.
- The right to practice religion alone or with others, publicly or privately.
- Protection from government establishing or favoring a religion.
- Protection from government interference in religious practices.
- Protection from discrimination based on religion in private and public spheres
