Faith Quote by Harry A. Blackmun
““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 Supreme Court Opinion: Employment Division v. Smith, 1990
State endorsement of a religion signals exclusion to non‑believers, contradicting equality.
In simple terms: Government favoring one faith excludes others.
Key Takeaway
Advocate secular governance.
Themes
religion
government
equality
exclusion
constitutional law
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
legal
political
When to use this quote
- legislative drafting
- public policy debates
- court rulings
Key Concepts
separation of church and state
majority bias
rights protection
Questions to Reflect On
- Should the state ever recognize religious symbols?
- How to balance majority beliefs with minority rights?
A Different Perspective
Secularism may clash with cultural traditions.
![“I do not make decisions [as governor] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious classes in school. I'm a big believer in separation of church and state, and I think that's what . . . the law is.” quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a18/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_believer_i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-base_18031.jpg)
![“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)
