Early in their history, Americans rejected the concept of the established or government-favored religion that had dominated -- and divided -- so many European countries. Separation of church and state was ordained by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provides in part that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...."

The First Amendment sounds straightforward, but at times it is difficult even for American constitutional scholars to draw a distinct line between government and religion in the United States. Students in public schools may not pray publicly as part of the school day, yet sessions of the U.S. Congress regularly begin with a prayer by a minister. Cities may not display a Christmas créche on public property, but the slogan "In God We Trust" appears on U.S. currency, and money given to religious institutions can be deducted from one's income for tax purposes. Students who attend church-affiliated colleges may receive federal loans like other students, but their younger siblings may not receive federal monies specifically to attend religious elementary or secondary schools.

It may never be possible to resolve these apparent inconsistencies. They derive, in fact, from a tension built into the First Amendment itself, which tells Congress neither to establish nor to interfere with religion. Trying to steer a clear course between those two dictates is one of the most delicate exercises required of American public officials.

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• For Goodness Sake: Why so Many Want Religion to Play a Greater Role in American Life
• Jews in Pennsylvania
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• New York Jewish History
• Religious Freedom as a Human Right
• Religious Liberty Archive State and federal laws pertaining to religious freedom in the U.S.
• Religious Liberty in the Modern Era
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• Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
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• The Roots of Religious Liberty
• Separating Church and State: Freedom of Religion
• Thomas Jefferson on Religious Liberty: A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom in Virginia, 1786
• U.S. Constitution. First Amendment. FindLaw
• Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, 1786
• Witchcraft in Salem Village University of Virginia, Electronic Text Center

• American Religion Data Archive
• American Religious Identification Survey CUNY, Graduate Center
• Info Please Almanac: Religion
• Lists of the Largest Religious Groups in America
• Religion Statistics Adherents.com
• Religious Affiliation of the U.S. Supreme Court
• Religious Bodies - Statistical Abstracts of the United States 2006
• Religious Identification of Adult Population - Statistical Abstracts of the U.S. 2006

• The American Religious Experience
• American Religion Links West Virginia University
• American Studies Web: Religion and Religious Cultural Studies Georgetown University
• Divining America: Religion and the National Culture
• Internal Revenue Service: Churches and Religious Orgnizations
• Links to Organizations and Web-sites Related to Religion and Politics and Contemporary Church-State Issues
• Online Resources for the Study of Religion Princeton University, Center for the Study of Religion
• The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
• Quick Facts About The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church)
• Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
• Religion & Philosophy Topics Librarian's Index to the Internet (LII)
• Religious Groups Profiles
• Religion Gateway AcademicInfo
• Religion in American in the 21st Century 21st Century. Jean M. Fairclough
• Religious Liberty American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• U.S. Religious History: A Guide to Resources on the Web University of Colorado
• Virtual Religion Index Rutgers University
• Yahoo! Religion and Spirituality: Faith and Practices

Amish
• Amish History & Settlement in America
Catholic
• Catholic.net
Jehovah's Witnesses
• Jehovah's Witnesses
Jewish
• American Jewish Historical Society
• Jewish American History on the Web
Mennonites
• Who Are the Mennonites?
Mormons
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church)
Muslims
• Council on American-Islamic Relations
• Project MAPS: Muslims in American Public Square
Presbyterian
• The Presbyterian Church in America
Quakers
• The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Unitarian
• Unitarian Universalist Association