|
That's the problem with debating law and policy based upon pithy phrases. 'Freedom of religion' and 'Freedom from religion' are such ambigious statements that the question is meaningless until you define your terms better. Of course, as others have pointed out, in the US we have what most people think of as freedom of religion - the freedom to worship (or not) as we please. We don't have freedom *from* religion in the sense that we have the right not to hear about other people's religion, or see them practicing their faith...within reasonable limits, of course.
The interesting questions are those on the fringes - does "In God we trust" on the dollar bill, the official currency of the US, constitute establishment of religion? What about religious references in other official documents, religious iconography on public buildings (moses and the ten commandments on the supreme court building, for instance).
I agree with groups like the ACLU in almost every instance, but I think they often go too far with regards to displays like these - at some point, you have to accept a 'live and let live' philosophy. You often hear about the ACLU suing to remove this or that religious display. I don't think merely having a religious display, even on government property, is establishment of religion.
|