The First Amendment: How Do We Exercise Freedom of Religion for All?

Lifelong Learning North Iowa Area Community
 College September 17, 2019, Constitution Day  

About 90 people came and engaged in wonderful conversation                                                                                         

 Norma Cook Everist, professor

Brief History of Freedom of Religion
 and U.S. Relationship of Religion and 
Government (“Church and State”)

1.    Disestablishment occurred gradually,
 state by state, over a 50-year period in
 the new United State of America.

2.    Disestablishment meant denominationalism
 and promised inclusion of all religions.

3.    Debate remains to this day as to the
 meaning of “separation of church and state.”

1^st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: 
Congress shall make no law respecting an
 establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
 free exercise thereof; or abridging the
 freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
 right of the people peaceably to assemble,
 and to petition the Government for a
 redress of grievances.

1.    The establishment clause: The nation
 gives privilege to all religions without
discrimination.

2.    The free exercise clause: Religious
 freedom means that I and my neighbor
 both have religious freedom.

Various Positions on Religion and
 Government

1.    One Religion Dominating the Nation
and Over the Government

2.    The Government Dominating All Religions

3.    One Religion Privileged Above 
All Other Religions: A State Religion

4.    A Civil Religion: The Symbols,
 Shrines, Holy Days, Rituals and 
Creeds of Nationalism Linked to a Religion

5.    Institutional Separation and
Functional Interaction: Healthy Pluralism  

Kinds of Separation  

1.    Structural Separation

2.    Absolute Separation

3.    Transvaluing Separation

4.    Supportive Separation

5.    Equal Separation

Time to Talk with each other

1.    Why do you think that the no
 “establishment” clause” is important
 and how can we help understand
 and support all religions without
 discrimination?

2.    How does “functional interaction”
 take us beyond just “being nice” or 
saying “this is a free country” to caring
 about the problems of the world and
 the needs of our neighbors?

Encountering Religious Diversity

1.    Religious diversity has continually shaped
American society, starting with the
 indigenous peoples.

2.    We can make common commitments and 
accept new callings.

3.    We cannot really know another’s belief, but
 we can ask and respect and work together.

Religion in Public Schools

1.    God is not forbidden in the public schools
. Each student comes as a person with a
 belief system and perhaps as a member 
of a faith community.

2.    We need schools to be safe, trustworthy
, places to be different together, not
 places of fear.  

3.    We need schools to teach how the
 natural world functions; we do not look
 to science to answer religious questions.

4.    The schools approach to religion
 should be awareness and instruction
 not indoctrination or conversion.

5.    There should be equitable access
 to public/community quality education
 for all regardless of race, religion,
 social-economic background, etc.   

Current Challenges of Religious Freedom
for Living in the Public World Together

1.    Faith Communities Tax Exempt Status:
 Speaking on Political Issues, Telling
People How to Vote, Preaching on
 Social Statements

2.    Commerce in the public arena: 
religious freedom as a justification
 for discrimination against serving
 certain customers

3.    Religious freedom of employers
 and the restriction of the rights of 
employees

4.    Religious restrictions of
 child-placement
 agencies in regard to foster 
care and adoption

5.    Opening Municipal and 
Legislative Meetings

Time to talk with each other

1.    Share examples of public schools
 teaching about religion and being
 a place for people to appreciate
 religious diversity.

2.    Which issues of religious freedom 
and religion and government challenge 
you today? Select one to talk about
 together.

Other Important Freedoms in the First 
Amendment (all in the same sentence)

1.    Freedom of Speech

2.    Freedom of the Press

3.    Freedom to Peaceably Assemble

4.    Freedom to Petition the Government
 for a Redress of Grievances