The Meaning of "Religion" in the First Amendment

Authors

Lee J. Strang

Abstract

In this article, the author attempts to define the meaning of the word "religion" in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. In defining "religion", the author is mindful of the position taken by almost all constitutional scholars; the original meaning of the text is important. On the other hand, the article contends that the criteria, by which to judge the meaning of the text of the Constitution, is the meaning attributed to the text by the Ratifiers. The meaning of the word "religion" is not the subjective meaning attributed by individual Ratifiers, but rather the objectified meaning of the text as generally understood by all the Ratifiers.

First Page

181

Recommended Citation

Lee J. Strang, The Meaning of "Religion" in the First Amendment, 40 Duq. L. Rev. 181 (2002).
Available at: https://dsc.duq.edu/dlr/vol40/iss2/3