That's NOT Constitutional!

Have you ever wondered where the phrase "separation of church and state" came from. You might think it was part of our constitution, but I assure you, IT IS NOT. But where did it come from?

The answer is that it came from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson on January 1, 1802 to the Danbury Baptist Association of Danbury, Connecticut. Here is the part you might recognize:

I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and state.

Jefferson wasn't even a member of the Constitution Convention and the term "separation of church and state" does not appear anywhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.

If you would like to read more on this topic you can see THIS article for more details.

So, what is the first amendment?

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.

So what do you think? Is the governement making any laws that prohibit me from freely exercising my religion?