In God We Trust: How the Supreme Court’s First Amendment Decisions Affect Organized Religion

Throughout America’s history, the First Amendment has been a lightning rod for the debate over religious freedom and its limitations within a free society. Intense legal battles have been fought over prayer in school, religious symbols on public property, and the right to speak out when religious beliefs conflict with popular opinion. These battles will continue as society struggles with the degree of tolerance to give organized religions. Does the First Amendment create a wall of separation between church and state? How important was that concept to the men who created the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Has the Supreme Court been true to the founders’ intent, or has it distorted the First Amendment religion clauses beyond recognition? IN GOD WE TRUST does not attempt to answer these questions. Instead, it provides a neutral summary of the First Amendment’s historical background and the cases interpreting it. This knowledge gives readers the tools they need to reach their own conclusions. This book is written in plain English and uses reader-friendly vignettes, making it easy for laypeople to understand. It is an important resource for religious leaders, students of the Constitution, and others interested in the First Amendment religion clauses.