The United States was founded on the basis that those who were escaping the British could have religious freedom and now have to suffer from the taxes by the British. The puritans were the first example of individuals looking for religious freedom in the midst of a growing government that could not separate the clergy and state. The first amendment gave the right of freedom of religion to all citizens of the United States. It took several years after the whole United States Government was formed for the officials to come to a consensus on how much religion should affect the sanctity of politics in the new world that they were establishing. They came to an understanding that religion should be chosen by the individual and expressed to their own extent. As well as the choice to not make a set religion mandatory in the country (A state decreed religious affiliation).

Many countries around the world chose to affiliate their nation with certain religious groups. Most of North and West Africa are affiliated with Islam, as well as the middle east. Most countries have a majority of the countries having primarily a population that associates with Christianity. Currently, there are 20 major religions being practiced around the whole world. From the older religions such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc., to some of the newer religions such as Bahá’í and Rastafari which have emerged in the last century. Each has a unique role in the locations that they are currently being practiced in. There are also major religions that do not have a distinct holy individual like Jesus within Christianity, or Allah within Islam. Atheism is also a very popular religion situated in many countries spanning the globe in where there is no higher being and that is man made and that it is meaningless.

There are many issues that blend in to create a large web of intersectionality between themes of racism and prejudice to religion and faith. While in the first amendment it claims to grant the freedom of religion to every American citizen. It is questioned heavily in the viewpoint of the government and even the citizens of the United States. I wouldn’t state that we are being forced to conform but I will bring up the argument that religious affiliation does matter heavily in terms of politics. When an elected official is being sworn in they must place their hand on a central religious text of their faith. In the terms of the most recent presidential election, the President of the United States during his inauguration was sworn in by reciting an oath with his hand placed on the bible because his religious affiliation was with Christianity. While the U.S. Representative for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district since 2019, Ilhan Omar, was sworn into office by placing her hand on a Quran because her religious affiliation is with Islam.

In many cases around the United States, individuals have been confined to dress a certain way or wear their hair in a specific nature when many style themselves to appropriately follow their religious affiliation. In the neighboring county of mine, Prince William County in Virginia, two teens were sent home for donning a hijab to their classes at Freedom High School prompting significant backlash from lots of individuals. While religious freedom may be respected in the eyes of the laws. There are still many instances where it is not respected by other individuals. Hate and religion are two things that most would not normally be linked to each other but in the recent years there have been an increasing amount of hate crimes that are resulting because of prejudice of an individuals religion. After 9/11, there was a sudden backlash and hateful remarks directed towards Muslims because the perpetrators were Islamic terrorists. On October 27, 2018 a Jewish Synagogue was the victim of a mass shooting where 11 people passed away and 6 were wounded.

These hate crimes may not be supported be supported by the government but their is no protection given to those that practice religions that may not be as common as some others. This leads to a sad dynamic where certain religions are persecuted more than others. This is sad to see, especially in a country where the freedom of religion is literally their first amendment in the constitution.