The First Amendment's religion clauses have shaped American religious freedom. From colonial persecution to modern debates, these provisions have guided the relationship between government and faith. The Supreme Court's interpretations have evolved, balancing individual liberty with separation of church and state.

Key cases like Everson and Smith have defined the scope of religious protections. The Court has grappled with issues like school prayer, religious displays, and government funding, seeking to navigate the tension between free exercise and non-establishment principles.

Historical Context and Interpretation

Historical context of religion clauses

• Colonial religious persecution prompted Founders to prioritize religious freedom (Massachusetts Bay Colony)
• Enlightenment philosophy influenced separation of church and state (John Locke)
• First Amendment religion clauses established dual protections against government interference
• Thomas Jefferson's "wall of separation" metaphor shaped interpretation of church-state relations
• James Madison advocated for robust religious liberty and pluralism
• Early America saw gradual disestablishment of state religions (Massachusetts, 1833)

Supreme Court on Establishment Clause

• Everson v. Board of Education (1947) applied Establishment Clause to states through 14th Amendment
• Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) created three-prong test for evaluating government actions related to religion
• Lynch v. Donnelly (1984) introduced endorsement test focusing on perception of government support
• Lee v. Weisman (1992) prohibited clergy-led prayers at public school events using coercion test
• Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002) upheld school voucher programs including religious schools based on neutrality and private choice

Scope of Free Exercise Clause

• Reynolds v. United States (1879) distinguished between protected religious beliefs and regulatable practices
• Sherbert v. Verner (1963) established compelling interest test for laws burdening religious exercise
• Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) exempted Amish from compulsory education laws based on religious freedom
• Employment Division v. Smith (1990) narrowed Free Exercise protections for neutral, generally applicable laws
• Religious Freedom Restoration Act (1993) attempted to restore compelling interest test nationwide
• City of Boerne v. Flores (1997) limited RFRA's application to federal government actions
• Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014) extended religious exemptions to closely held corporations under RFRA

Tension between religion clauses

• Religious displays cases reveal differing approaches (Van Orden v. Perry, McCreary County v. ACLU)
• School prayer decisions balance student rights with Establishment concerns (Engel v. Vitale, Santa Fe v. Doe)
• Government funding cases address equal access vs. entanglement (Mitchell v. Helms, Trinity Lutheran v. Comer)
• Courts struggle to balance non-establishment, free exercise, and neutrality principles