"respecting" as in "pertaining to." Therefore the government cannot restrict the practice of religion or mandate a national religion.jillian said:The Constitution says nothing about "mandating" religion. It says "respecting" religion...which means there is a line between Church and State. The First Amendment says:
Religion can accomplish what a multitude of laws cannot: the practice of self-control in a population. This is why it is in the best interest of a government to encourage the practice of peaceful religion.As for it being in the State's interest to "endorse" religion, there is simply no Constitutional basis for it, much as you may wish otherwise.
No, the minorities' choice to opt out should be respected. The government should not restrict the ability of a group of people to learn about a subject simply bc of the POSSIBILITY that it might hurt someone's feelings.So the minorities should be ostracized when attention is drawn to their "opting out".
Sorry...that's EXACTLY what government isn't allowed to do to people.