Freedom of religion

Freedom of religion, also known as freedom of worship, is the human right and civil liberty to be able to practice a religion without fear of being persecuted for it. It usually involes tolerating religions that are not the majority religion and usually comes alongside a separation of church and state, although not always. According to the United Nations, freedom of religion is part of international law.

Freedom of Worship, a painting of Norman Rockwell of 1943

By country

United States

In the United States, freedom of religion is part of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states:

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.

Related pages

• Religious conversion
• Religious toleration
• Separation of church and state
• State religion
• Secularism

Other websites

• Text of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights