First Amendment Full Text: Congress Thesis

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Reasoning: Regardless of Ballard's religious beliefs, the Court determined (along with the original trial judge) that the only issue at hand was whether or not Ballard believed in good faith that he could heal people. The underlying religious beliefs f the "I Am" movement did not matter. This made the prohibition against the state or even juries determining the validity of religious beliefs explicit, stating that not only were they immaterial but that they were unallowable for consideration under the law.

Minersville School District v. Gobitis

310 U.S. 586 (1940)

Facts: Two children (10 and 12) were suspended from school for refusing to salute the flag on religious grounds (the children were Jehova's Witnesses).

Issue: Were the children's due process denied because of their exercise of religious freedom?

Holding: The suspension stood; the right of the school district to promote national unity was determined more at issue than the freedom of religious exercise limited by the act of saluting the flag

Reasoning: Freedom of religion was never meant to guarantee freedom from other laws that do not prohibit or prevent the exercise of religion, therefore when laws exist for other compelling reasons they can be upheld even in the face of religious opposition. This broadened the situations in which authority wins out over liberty in religious cases

Board of Education of the Westside Community Schools v. Mergens

496 U.S.

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226 (1990)

Facts: Students attempting to form a Christian Club were denied the opportunity when the school decided that a faculty sponsor -- a requirement for all clubs -- would constitute an endorsement of a specific religion (i.e. Christianity).

Issue: The students claimed that their First Amendment rights as clarified as stated in the Equal Access Act -- permitting equal rights to expressing unofficial views on public properties such as schools -- were denied them based on their religion.

Holding: The students were allowed to form their club.

Reasoning: The Equal Access Act protected both secular and religious speech, and was in fact intended for primarily secular speech, and therefore was enforceable. This meant that other clubs could be formed to oppose the views of the Christian club, and as faculty members were barred by the school's own rules from participating in club activities, no endorsement existed.

The Changing Interpretation

The freedom of religion protected and guaranteed by the First Amendment is still in debate and flux today. Supreme Court rulings have generally set clearer boundaries limiting the government's intervention and control of religion, though some cases have had the opposite effect......

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