My own brother believes that anyone who doesn't believe in a god -- any god -- can't be a "true" American. Is he part of the majority?
Actually, my brother and I are quite close. Our views on life, politics, and spirituality are and have always been on opposite ends of the spectrum, but we have always accepted each other.
He's born again Christian and I'm atheist.
Anne Arkey
Favorite Answer
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any religion. The freedom to leave or discontinue membership in a religion or religious group —in religious terms called "apostasy" —is also a fundamental part of religious freedom, covered by Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (From Wiki)
Your brother is wrong.
Anonymous
Of course not, but I have found many Americans (and others) are confused about the freedom of religion clauses. No one has a "freedom of religion". It expresses a restriction on the government, not a right of the people. (Unlike express rights of speech and assembly.)
When interpreted, it shows an underlying "given" in the Constitution, that everyone has a right to believe whatever they want. Essentially, it exists unspoken, because how could "thought police" ever be considered a reality and be implemented? That would be insane.
Religion, in the sense of the first amendment, is directed at organized religion. It shows the government can't favor any one organization over another in this regard. Since the first amendment goes on, in one paragraph, to include the express rights of speech of assembly, we can then see what the authors meant.
If I want to get a bunch of people together that don't believe in god to talk about it, and we do so peacefully, it has just as much legal standing as a theistic organization.
Anonymous
My mother believes the same thing, darling...and considers atheism and "non-traditional" religions to be anti-American...and the political figures she follows reinforce that belief while hypocritically calling atheists "divisive" and "dangerous."
She continues to believe this, even though she has at least 3 atheist or non-traditionally-believing kids. She just ignores our atheism/pantheism/Wiccan beliefs and pretends to be surprised when we remind her that we're not Christian.
Statistics have shown that the majority of Americans think that atheists can't be trusted and don't want the same things that they do. Not only that - they would be more upset at the idea that their child was an atheist than they would be if their child was gay, would be more upset to have their child marry an atheist than a member of any other minority group, and would not vote for an otherwise qualified political candidate with whom they otherwise agreed if they found out that candidate was an atheist, so I think that means that yes, your brother is in the majority.
Pathetic, isn't it? Especially when you consider that the founders felt so strongly about freedom of and from religion that they made protection against establishment and for free exercise of religion the first two clauses of the Bill of Rights.
Simon T
If freedom of religion does not include the freedom to have no religion, then it is not freedom of religion.
By your brother's argument does our freedom of speech mean that we have to talk all the time? Or does the freedom of speech include the right to remain silent if we want?
I suspect that your brother's definition of a 'true American" is someone as bigoted as he is.
Tim
To answer your first question, yes freedom of religion excludes freedom from religion. People have the right to express religion so long as it does not interfere with the rights of others to life, liberty (which certainly includes their right to free expression of religion), or property.
To answer your other question, you have the freedom to believe or not to believe, but not the freedom to interfere with another's free exercise of religion or free exercise of no religion. We do not have the right to not be offended unless we make the personal decision not to be offended by anything whatsoever.