Religious freedom has always been an essential part of the American experiment. Original colonists in the 1600s fled religious oppression and founded four of the first American colonies. Later, the new United States enshrined religious freedom in the First Amendment. Americans have had an up- and-down struggle to live up to that amendment – including periods of remarkable acceptance of the faith and practices of religious minorities as well as periods of open hostility toward religion.
Today it feels as if conflicts between government policies and religious practice are becoming more common. In the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court term, for instance, there were three major decisions on religious freedom, and more are anticipated for next term. The ongoing debate over restrictions meant to combat the COVID-19 pandemic has included high- profile clashes over limits on worship, and some of these could lead to further legal developments.
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