Atheism Quote by Harry A. Blackmun
“The mixing of government and religion can be a threat to free government, even if no one is forced to participate… When the government puts its imprimatur on a particular religion, it conveys a message of exclusion to all those who do not adhere to the favored beliefs. A government cannot be premised on the belief that all persons are created equal when it asserts that God prefers some.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Supreme Court Oral Argument, 1990
Merging state endorsement of a religion signals exclusion, undermining equal treatment and threatening liberty.
In simple terms: State support of one religion excludes others and harms freedom.
Key Takeaway
Separate government from religious endorsement.
Themes
religion
government
freedom
equality
exclusion
Mood
cautionary
critical
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy drafting
- public education
- legal debates
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
separation of church and state
constitutional law
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- Can a neutral stance be truly achieved?
- What safeguards protect minority beliefs?
A Different Perspective
Political realities may limit pure separation.
![“The mandated description of fetal characteristics at two-week intervals, no matter how objective, is plainly overinclusive. [It is] not medical information that is always relevant to the woman's decision, and it may serve to confuse and punish her and to heighten her anxiety.” quote by Harry A. Blackmun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8ae/harry-a-blackmun-19399_anxiety_the-mandated-description-of-fetal-charac_316886.jpg)
