“The First Amendment is important not only to guarantee the rights of alternative religions and of nonreligious persons in society; it is also important in setting the only possible legal and social condition for the creative health of serious religion itself.”

True, that's why alot of people hate it.

True, that's why the executive, legislative, and judiciary ignore it.

Well said.

The first amendment is protection of thought and conscience for the minority, the majority, the powerful, and the weak, and they all need that protection from each other. Such is human nature.

I will believe America has religious freedom when I see an acknowledged atheist elected to anything. Listening to the Republican candidates for president, it is not enough that they claim a belief in a Supreme Being, but it must be according to particular persuasions -- not some "cult", like Mormonism. If Mother Teresa were running here, she probably would not be acceptable for any office, having expressed her own doubts as to the very existence of God at times in some of her letters