Church and State: Free Exercise  The main controversy over the
Free Exercise of Religion clause of the First Amendment is how
narrow or broad an interpretation is necessary. Here, the plain
text of that clause is illuminating. The clause uses the word
“exercise.” Today, as in the 1700s, the word infers action. In
fact, that great “sacrosanct” Jefferson letter that permeates
constitutional thought today specifically agrees with this idea
in that prohibitions on the free exercise of religion extended
only to legislative actions. The problem, however, is that
Madison, not Jefferson, helped write the Bill of Rights and
Madison had a broader view of the Free Exercise clause. The
clause is a great affirmation of the importance of religion in
American life.  We have to go back a little further in time to
the period known as the Enlightenment, specifically the words of
John Locke in this area. Much of Locke’s political thinking
found its way into the philosophical justification for
independence from Britain so his im