Establishment v. Exercise

The 1st amendment contains two religion clauses; the establishment clause and the exercise clause. Both play a vital role in facilitating religious liberties in the United States. In addition to preventing the government from establishing an official national religion the exercise clause also prevents the government from favoring one religion over the other. The purpose of the exercise clause is protect an individuals right to exercise the religion of their choice. Religion is an essential aspect of a free society. Washington was a firm believer in the need for religion on society. In his farewell address he stated, "Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education..reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." Like Washington the Founders understood the importance of religion in society which is why they included in the 1st amendment the protection of this right. have begun to pit establishment verse exercise. In an attempt to prevent America from establishing a national government they began to eliminate public expression of religion. This began with eliminating any prayer from school no matter the denomination. Traditionally religious holidays could not be celebrated unless they were secularized. Public display of religious  ideals such as the ten commandments or nativity scenes have been  removed from public view. In recent years the fight against religious exercise has expanded to private life. Bakers who refuse, for religious beliefs, to make a wedding cake for a same sex wedding are fined. Hotels, who for religious beliefs, refuse to host a wedding for same sex couples are fined and labeled as a bigot and hatter.
It is evident that the establishment clause has overturned the exercise clause and what was intended to protect religious beliefs and exercise from government intervention is now being used to attack it. It is vital that we as Americans have an understanding about our religious heritage, our religious freedoms, and our religious rights.