1st Amendment

[Doggey75]

So, I am confused about the 1st amendment and the rights it gives and stuff like that. I have a few questions about it. Correct me if I'm wrong about anything


The first amendment talks about freedom of religion as far as I can tell. Does it say anything about freedom from religion?

Can a teacher of a public school talk about their faith? Or there non faith?

Is Having a cross(or any religious symbol) in public ground not allowed? If yes, they would they have to represent all religious and non religious beliefs to make it legal?

Are billboards considered public or private property?

That's all I can think of right now. Some sound kinds dumb but I want to be sure about it.

[Silver]

Freedom of religion does include freedom from religion.

A public educational figure should not speak of religious faith with his or her students.

The school system itself may not assemble any religious paraphernalia. To make it legal, yes, all faiths would have to be represented.

I am unsure about the billboard question, but I would imagine it is private property.

[Godlesspanther]

Freedom of religion includes the freedom to choose no religion at all. So freedom of religion necessitates freedom from religion. We are not required to pick a religion as long as you just pick one -- some religious nuts like to interpret the first amendment that way, but it's wrong.

A teacher of a public school may mention that they, themselves, are a member of a particular religious group but not in a way that suggests that others ought to be a member of that same group.

Technically, yes, a symbol that designates a particular religion on public property is a violation of the first amendment unless every religious groups is allowed the same access. There are a million or so different religions making it totally impractical to allow all of them to be represented so the most rational thing to do is allow none of them.

Billboards are owned by private advertising companies -- private property.

I don't think it's "dumb" to ask for clarification about things that are complicated -- and this issue is.

[SteelCurtain]

The establishment clause of the 1st amendment is the most poignant one to most of your questions.

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.

This means that no government body or agent should promote one religion over another, or compel any person to participate in religious rites or rituals. It doesn't mean that no one should have to hear about religion in the public sphere, or that people cannot perform their own religious rites where they please.

Having religious iconography on public property is allowed, so long as the same rules apply to all religious iconography. So if the Ten Commandments are put up, the government is not compelled to put up all other religious symbols, but the same route should be available to any other group to put up their symbols in the same space. A teacher can talk about their god or atheism, as long as they are merely mentioning it, not proselytizing. And billboards are absolutely private property. And within the laws of propriety, anything can be put on them. (i.e. no porn or swear words.)

I don't buy the freedom from religion thing. People are religious, they have to right to be religious. Saying 'freedom from religion,' while it means one thing for us (no government involvement, no one should be compelled to be religious) it means another thing for religious people (we're trying to outlaw religion.) I think the idea is that everyone is different, and no one should have another person's views respected or established more than theirs.

[Minimalist]

Fucking religion aside, every two-bit municipality in the country has made laws which restrict the right of the people to "assemble."

[Doggey75]

Can a teacher ask students to start a debate regarding religion but does not get invloved in the debate? (Just a random question :p )

So, teachers that say out loud stuff like "Thank God, for the power coming on!" Or " God forbid we get in an accident". Is that allowed?


I had a really good question but i forgot lmao

[Silver]

Can a teacher ask students to start a debate regarding religion but does not get invloved in the debate?

If it is a comparative religions class or even a philosophy class. Otherwise, I doubt it is allowed.

So, teachers that say out loud stuff like "Thank God, for the power coming on!" Or " God forbid we get in an accident". Is that allowed?

No to the former, but the latter is fine.

[Godlesspanther]

Can a teacher ask students to start a debate regarding religion but does not get invloved in the debate? (Just a random question :p )

So, teachers that say out loud stuff like "Thank God, for the power coming on!" Or " God forbid we get in an accident". Is that allowed?


I had a really good question but i forgot lmao

If it is a debate class or a comparative religions class -- otherwise such a thing would be off-topic and pointless.

Common expressions that contain the word "god" are just that -- common expressions. There are often said and can be ignored. Personally, I never make an issue out of it and I don't see any reason to.

[Coffee Jesus]

I have a queston. If the government allows individuals to discriminate on the basis of religion, does that count as the government promoting or prohibiting exercise of religion?

[Doggey75]

I remember my question now xD (2 days later).
If a private company pays for something to be put up on public land that is not allowed right?