Freedom Of Religion Essay Research Paper Freedom

Freedom Of Religion Essay, Research Paper

Freedom of Religion gives one the right to practice their religion without it being

sanctioned by the state. Children should not be forced to salute the flag. The First

Amendment gives everyone the right of freedom of religion. This right should be

protected at all times. The pledge of allegiance is also not the best or only way of

showing faith in one?s country. The pledge should not be a requirement because of the

fact that it does not necessarily prove or disprove submission to the laws of the

country. The state does not have the right to require children to salute the flag because

the First Amendment protects freedom of religion and because saluting the flag is not a

suitable form of showing allegiance.

The First Amendment of the United States says that, ?Congress shall make no law

respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof?? (US

Const.). The First Amendment of the Constitution was designed to protect people like

the Gobitis children from having their rights infringed. The religion of the Gobitis

children was that of the ?Jehovah?s Witness?. A key part to their religion was that ?the

Bible as the Word of God is the supreme authority.? (Minersville v. Gobitis). Thus to

the Gobitis children, saluting the flag was if they were bowing down before a graven

image and against their religion. The children were expelled from school for refusing to

salute the flag. Their father and the children were thus denied the right to public

education. Similar cases took place as other children refused to salute the flag based on

their beliefs. The First Amendment was meant to stop this discrimination. Why should

a religious group not be allowed to have the same privileges as another simply because

of their religious beliefs? According to Justice Stone, ?by this law the state seeks to

coerce these children to express a sentiment which, as they interpret it, they do not

entertain, and which violates their deepest religious convictions? (Minersville v.

Gobitis). Thus this law clearly violates the rights that these children had to have free

exercise of their religion. Justice Stone also said in his dissent that he does not believe

that the country is better served by their conformity to the observance than by their