Stardate 20010705.0605 (On Screen): I keep running into the fact that for a lot of people, "Freedom of religion" means the right to choose which Christian church you will attend. Deep down there may be a begrudging acknowledgement about "temples and synagogues" and an understanding that this may protect other religions. Somehow they never seem to accept, however, that it also means the right to not worship at all. Atheism is a religion, and is equally protected by the constitution (though it took until the 1960's for this to be recognized in a Supreme Court decision).
Our President, in a speech with unintended irony held at Independence Hall, is trying to claim that his "faith-based initiative" to give government money to faith-based charities is fully in line with the founder's intents. Somehow he seems to have missed the fact that right next to the "freedom of religion" clause in the First Amendment is another one called the "establishment" clause which says that Congress shall pass no law regarding an estblishment of religion.
It may well be that Our President really believes in this, but I think it's more likely to be a cynical ploy to curry favor with the religious right. (discuss)
