the right to worship any god, all gods, or none, without the state keeping score.
means a legal and moral principle that government cannot force, ban, or favor particular religious beliefs or practices.
from rooted in enlightenment thinking about conscience as untouchable by kings, crystallized in documents like virginia's 1786 statute for religious freedom, drafted by jefferson, who considered it one of his three proudest achievements alongside the declaration and university of virginia.
virginia statute 1786 — jefferson's law ending state-sponsored church support entirely
edict of nantes 1598 — henry iv granted french protestants rights, revoked 1685
rhode island colony — roger williams founded it in 1636 on this principle alone
india's constitution — guarantees freedom to practice, propagate, and convert since 1950