Question

freedom of religion
use pages 16-19 of the student text to complete the worksheet.
fill in the blank
use the words in each word bank to complete each passage.

religion separation government
establishment clause prayer

the ______________ says that congress cannot make laws about the
establishment of religion. it means that the ______________ cannot
create an official religion for the united states. it also means that the
government cannot say one ______________ is better than another. the
united states believes in ______________ of church and state. the
supreme court said that officially sponsored ______________ in public
schools is not allowed.

limited health medical
supreme court free exercise clause

the ______________ says that a person can have any religious beliefs
that he or she wants. however, religious practices can be ______________
if they threaten the health and safety of other people. for example, some
people’s religious beliefs do not allow certain ______________ practices,
like vaccinations. in this case, the religious practice might threaten the
______________ of other people, so it is not usually allowed. this
decision was made by the ______________.

Explanation:

First Passage (Word Bank: religion, separation, government, Establishment Clause, prayer)

1. The first blank: The Establishment Clause (part of the First Amendment) prohibits Congress from making laws establishing a religion. So fill with "Establishment Clause".
2. The second blank: The "government" (specifically Congress and the federal government) can't create an official religion. So fill with "government".
3. The third blank: The government can't favor one "religion" over another. So fill with "religion".
4. The fourth blank: The U.S. believes in "separation" of church and state (the idea that religion and government operate independently). So fill with "separation".
5. The fifth blank: Officially sponsored "prayer" in public schools is not allowed (per Supreme Court rulings). So fill with "prayer".

Second Passage (Word Bank: limited, health, medical, Supreme Court, Free Exercise Clause)

1. The first blank: The Free Exercise Clause (of the First Amendment) allows people to hold any religious beliefs. So fill with "Free Exercise Clause".
2. The second blank: Religious practices can be "limited" if they threaten others' health/safety. So fill with "limited".
3. The third blank: Some religious beliefs oppose certain "medical" practices (like vaccinations). So fill with "medical".
4. The fourth blank: Such practices might threaten the "health" of others. So fill with "health".
5. The fifth blank: The "Supreme Court" makes decisions about the limits of religious practices. So fill with "Supreme Court".

Filled Passages:

First Passage:

The \(\boldsymbol{\text{Establishment Clause}}\) says that Congress cannot make laws about the establishment of religion. It means that the \(\boldsymbol{\text{government}}\) cannot create an official religion for the United States. It also means that the government cannot say one \(\boldsymbol{\text{religion}}\) is better than another. The United States believes in \(\boldsymbol{\text{separation}}\) of church and state. The Supreme Court said that officially sponsored \(\boldsymbol{\text{prayer}}\) in public schools is not allowed.

Second Passage:

The \(\boldsymbol{\text{Free Exercise Clause}}\) says that a person can have any religious beliefs that he or she wants. However, religious practices can be \(\boldsymbol{\text{limited}}\) if they threaten the health and safety of other people. For example, some people’s religious beliefs do not allow certain \(\boldsymbol{\text{medical}}\) practices, like vaccinations. In this case, the religious practice might threaten the \(\boldsymbol{\text{health}}\) of other people, so it is not usually allowed. This decision was made by the \(\boldsymbol{\text{Supreme Court}}\).

Answer:

First Passage (Word Bank: religion, separation, government, Establishment Clause, prayer)

1. The first blank: The Establishment Clause (part of the First Amendment) prohibits Congress from making laws establishing a religion. So fill with "Establishment Clause".
2. The second blank: The "government" (specifically Congress and the federal government) can't create an official religion. So fill with "government".
3. The third blank: The government can't favor one "religion" over another. So fill with "religion".
4. The fourth blank: The U.S. believes in "separation" of church and state (the idea that religion and government operate independently). So fill with "separation".
5. The fifth blank: Officially sponsored "prayer" in public schools is not allowed (per Supreme Court rulings). So fill with "prayer".

Second Passage (Word Bank: limited, health, medical, Supreme Court, Free Exercise Clause)

1. The first blank: The Free Exercise Clause (of the First Amendment) allows people to hold any religious beliefs. So fill with "Free Exercise Clause".
2. The second blank: Religious practices can be "limited" if they threaten others' health/safety. So fill with "limited".
3. The third blank: Some religious beliefs oppose certain "medical" practices (like vaccinations). So fill with "medical".
4. The fourth blank: Such practices might threaten the "health" of others. So fill with "health".
5. The fifth blank: The "Supreme Court" makes decisions about the limits of religious practices. So fill with "Supreme Court".

Filled Passages:

First Passage:

The \(\boldsymbol{\text{Establishment Clause}}\) says that Congress cannot make laws about the establishment of religion. It means that the \(\boldsymbol{\text{government}}\) cannot create an official religion for the United States. It also means that the government cannot say one \(\boldsymbol{\text{religion}}\) is better than another. The United States believes in \(\boldsymbol{\text{separation}}\) of church and state. The Supreme Court said that officially sponsored \(\boldsymbol{\text{prayer}}\) in public schools is not allowed.

Second Passage:

The \(\boldsymbol{\text{Free Exercise Clause}}\) says that a person can have any religious beliefs that he or she wants. However, religious practices can be \(\boldsymbol{\text{limited}}\) if they threaten the health and safety of other people. For example, some people’s religious beliefs do not allow certain \(\boldsymbol{\text{medical}}\) practices, like vaccinations. In this case, the religious practice might threaten the \(\boldsymbol{\text{health}}\) of other people, so it is not usually allowed. This decision was made by the \(\boldsymbol{\text{Supreme Court}}\).