The Constitution of Religious Freedom

In a time when the question of American religious identity underlies much political conversation that fills the public square, Dennis Goldford directs his readers to consider the First Amendment. The founding fathers' words, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof", are the constitutional means of ensuring, however imperfectly, the American freedom to stand for something sacred. In his analysis, Goldford ably demonstrates that the very nature of these religion clauses establishes protection not forreligionbut forreligious freedom.The Constitution of Religious Freedomrelocates religious identity, moving it from the nationand the ideals of its foundersand placing it within the individual citizen.