Freedom of Religion

By Maria Victoria Almarza

(Maria Victoria Almarza/StoryBytes)

June 9, 2026

MIAMI - “We cannot deny an equal freedom to those whose minds have not yet yielded to the evidence which has convinced us. If this freedom [of religious exercise] be abused, it is an offense against God, not against man: To God, therefore, not to man, must an account of it be rendered.” 

- James Madison, Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments (1785). 

Since America’s founding, religious liberty has been a natural and inalienable right. Though most Founding Fathers believed in and worshiped God, they felt the choice to be religious lay in the hands of each individual, not the government’s. Having just liberated themselves from Britain’s oppressive regime, religious liberty was vital to their new nation. States and the federal government alike included protections for religious freedom in their constitutions. 

As Thomas Jefferson wrote in A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom: 

“That therefore the proscribing any citizen as unworthy the public confidence by laying upon him an incapacity of being called to offices of trust and emolument, unless he profess or renounce this or that religious opinion, is depriving him injuriously of those privileges and advantages to which, in common with his fellow citizens, he has a natural right.” 

Nonetheless, the founders’ intentions and perspectives on freedom of religion do not exempt it from being contested. Across America and the globe, debates on the connection between government and religion are fervent. The most ardent of these lie on the place of religion in the classroom. 

Lamar Aljbour, 18, is a rising sophomore at The Honors College at Miami Dade College. She majors in political science, a path partially shaped by her high school experiences. Despite being a student in a public institution, as a Muslim woman, she was met with some barriers due to her religious beliefs.

(Photo courtesy of Lamar Aljbour)

While the separation of church and state afforded her some protections and freedoms as a member of a religious minority, such as a room for prayer, there is room for improvement, particularly for students. “Neutrality in schools ensures that students of different faiths feel equally respected.” She continued, “as school approached winter break, I watched my friends gush about the privilege of having such a long break coincide with Christmas. Meanwhile Muslims around the country, such as myself, needed accommodations to secure time off to celebrate Ramadan or Eid. These accommodations were often accompanied by extensive conversations that required substantial information on the “why” we needed three days off; meanwhile the arrival of Christmas and its long break was effortlessly welcomed.”

Holidays were not the only place where accommodations for students such as Aljbour were an afterthought. Oftentimes, within the walls of the choir room, Aljbour had to sit out of pieces due to implied, or even explicit, themes of Christianity. “Hallelujah’s” and praises to the Lord pervaded the repertoire, overwhelmingly so during the winter recitals. 

Eid celebrations in As-Salt, Jordan. (Photo courtesy of Abeldalrahim Kloub)

However, Aljbour’s choral directors made an effort to celebrate her musical excellence, culture, and religion in different ways. Aljbour said she was “thankful to have had two brilliant choir teachers who cooperated with me and created solutions for me to feel included.” Individually, she was given the opportunity to perform as a soloist during seasonal shows. For the group performances, each director had their own approach. She described: “My first teacher, Ms. Perez, granted me the honor of teaching my classmates how to perform “El Helwa Di,” a secular Arabic song which spoke of themes of community, hard work, and unity… The second teacher, Mr. Marchese, worked hard to select songs with consideration to my faith; he evaluated secular songs and occasionally asked for my input when selecting [them].”

Ms. Perez’s effort with “El Helwa Di” had an impact on more students than just Aljbour. It gave the entire mixed-choir the rare opportunity to learn about Aljbour’s religion and culture, as well as partake in a celebration of it. The composition helped the mixed choir, Falcon Singers, stand out in competitions and win its first ever Superior at District MPA. When religious diversity is celebrated in the classroom, it enriches the experiences of every student, not just those who fought for a space to be carved for them. 

Still, the argument for religion in the classroom and government is not obsolete. Abeldalrahim Kloub, a computer science student at Al-Balqa Applied University in Jordan, shared his continuous support of a religious state. 

“Religion is not just a set of worship rituals confined to the mosque; it is a comprehensive system that organizes the economy, social interactions, and human rights. Most importantly, religious legislations lay down solid foundations that guarantee justice and prevent oppression and corruption … When a state is grounded in religion, it builds a society where people follow the law not merely out of fear of worldly punishment, but because of inner self-censorship and the fear of Allah in both private and public life.”

For Kloub, the fear of a religious state limiting an individual’s ability to practice a certain aspect of their religion is trivial. In Islam, any exclusion or prohibition is believed to be a protection; it all occurs for one's own good. For those practicing religions outside of Islam, “coexistence in a religious country is achieved when the state's religion guarantees the rights of others, ensures their freedom of worship, and applies strict justice and equality in civil rights and duties without discrimination" Kloub said.

Kloub himself believes that Islamic states, such as Jordan, are an example of peaceful coexistence. In the classroom, though his formal and spiritual educations were defined by Islam, Kloub said, “Our religion encourages us to seek knowledge and to respect our teachers, regardless of their beliefs.” He continued, “Having classmates or teachers from different religions is a normal part of life and a great opportunity to interact kindly.” He consistently reiterated how Muslims are “commanded to treat everyone with respect and good manners.”  

(Malik Shibly/Unsplash)

Aljbour and Kloub, despite sharing the same religious beliefs, have contrasting views on the separation of church and state, especially in education. For Aljbour, religious freedom is key to equality, whereas for Kloub a lack of religion furthers inequality through a foundation that lacks uniform values. 

Their experiences and perspectives challenge the belief that separation of church and state results in religious liberty and equality. Though Kloub’s view that a religiously diverse society can coexist in equality within a religious state might feel idealistic to some, Aljbour’s experiences are proof that religious freedom does not guarantee respect and equality. 

Could it be possible that, by acknowledging a state religion, stronger protections would be put in place for religious minorities? Or would the difficulties Aljbour experienced be turned into insurmountable barriers? Is religious freedom a means to equality or does it exempt the government from addressing inequalities resulting from faith? 

The answers may vary depending on an individual’s background, religion or geography. Still, conversations that lean into the discomfort of diverging views on religion, government and freedom are essential to upholding and fighting for democracy. When discomfort silences the people’s voice, the people’s power falls into the grasp of the wrong hands.