First Amendment to the United

First Amendment to the United States Constitution

by Uni

Here is what the First Amendment actually says, this is from Wikipedia. This discussion is on "Freedom of Religion", since there is always some discrepancies in its actually meaning.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the United States Congress from making laws "respecting an establishment of religion" or that prohibit the free exercise of religion, laws that infringe the freedom of speech, infringe the freedom of the press, limit the right to peaceably assemble, or limit the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Although the First Amendment only explicitly applies to the Congress, the Supreme Court has interpreted it as applying to the executive and judicial branches. Additionally, in the 20th century the Supreme Court held that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment applies the limitations of the First Amendment to each state, including any local government within a state.

Text

"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."

Background

Opposition to the ratification of the Constitution was, in part, based on the Constitution's lack of adequate guarantees for civil liberties. In order to provide such guarantees, the First Amendment, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights, was submitted to the states for ratification on September 25, 1789 and adopted on December 15, 1791.

Now that we have a definition of the First Amendment, we can discuss what it really means. "Freedom of Religion", you have the right to worship in any religion of your choice as long as you follow Local, State and Federal laws. If your state or local area says that nudity is against the law, then you cannot come back and say "it's my religious choice". If it breaks the law, it breaks the law. Doing drugs, embezzlement, rape, etc... These are still against the law. I do not know any religion that actually condones illegal activity. I know that there are many over-zealous religious groups that make their bibles say what they want them to say and interpret them in such a way that they try to claim religious freedom. Just because its illegal does not mean that religion can make it legal.

Some of the more prominent Founding Fathers were anti-clerical or vocal about their opposition to organized religion, such as Jefferson. Some of them often related their anti-organized church leanings in their speeches and correspondence, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson (who created the "Jefferson Bible"), and Benjamin Franklin. However, other notable founders, such as Patrick Henry, were strong proponents of traditional religion. Several of the Founding Fathers considered themselves to be deists or held beliefs very similar to that of deists. Other founding fathers were Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Lutherans, Dutch Reformed, Protestants, and Methodists. With so many religions represented, it was logical that "Freedom of Religion" was meant to be an individual choice.

Remember that as long as you are within the guidelines of Local, State and Federal Law, your religious choice is yours to choose.

***Arkansas Law: "Section 5-68-204. You may not be nude in Arkansas in the presence of any person of the opposite sex who is not your spouse. It shall be unlawful for any person, club, camp, corporation, partnership, association, or organization to advocate, demonstrate, or promote nudism, or for any person to rent, lease, or otherwise permit his land, premises, or buildings to be used for the purpose of advocating, demonstrating, or promoting nudism" (Nudist Law).