Letter | What don’t you get about religious freedom and the ‘American way’?

The very first words in the very First Amendment to he U.S. Constitution reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ...."

I am asking some readers of The Sun News, and a great majority of the press, just what is it that you do not understand about the constitution’s function and, in particular, these few simple words?

Do you not understand that the constitution guarantees that in America people can freely exercise their religion. Those two words easily pass the 5th grade test for understanding. The sentence wherein these words reside is a complete statement. No qualifying words follow, no words saying a baker or candlestick maker has to stop exercising his or her religion at any time for any reason whatsoever.

My interpretation of the rule of law as laid out in the constitution, and the one correctly followed up until very recently, is that two thirds of the Congress and two thirds of the state legislators must agree to change the constitution to read that said baker and candlestick maker must stop freely exercising their religion for any purpose. Then these majorities can pass an amendment saying as much. Not a law - but an amendment.

Until that time no law is to be made prohibiting anyone on American soil from the freedom to exercise their religion. Period.

Let’s hold all of the weasel words that usually follow Christian proclamations in support of the First Amendment such as mine. I and many readers just want to hear a scholarly constitutional discourse on the above question.

If a shop will not serve you for not wearing a shirt, or for any reason, then find another shop.

Failing that, start a shop that serves everyone. Go compete in the free marketplace. This is after all what freedom is all about.

The process is known as the American way.

The writer lives in North Myrtle Beach.

This story was originally published April 15, 2015 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Letter | What don’t you get about religious freedom and the ‘American way’?."