Religion and the law in America : an encyclopedia of personal belief and public policy

Author:Scott A. Merriman

Summary:"Freedom of religion is probably the freedom that Americans hold the dearest, at least publicly. However, the limits of that freedom, and the limits of the corresponding First Amendment clause against a governmental establishment of religion, are very murky, especially when the freedom of one individual's religion begins to clash with the prohibition against the government's establishment. This encyclopedia identifies some of the boundaries of those freedoms, seeks to explain the overall development of the freedom of religion, and highlights some of the important judicial decisions that have shaped it. The encyclopedia discusses the interaction between religion and the law in America; it does not aim to give legal advice"--Introduction