Ted Poe: “the first amendment is first in our Bill of Rights because the provisions in it are the most important. Without those…”

“the first amendment is first in our Bill of Rights because the provisions in it are the most important. Without those provisions the rest of the Bill of Rights are meaningless. The first amendment states in part that ``Congress,'' that's us, ``shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' This amendment, like many others, was a reaction to colonial life under King George III. The Church of England was the official Church of England and some of the colonies. The Framers hoped to protect the exercise of any religion by prohibiting the establishment of a national religion. A national religion like the Church of England was supported by taxation. Attendance at services was even mandatory. No marriage or baptism outside of the Church was sanctioned. There were civil and even criminal penalties for members of religious minorities. So the U.S. Constitution's framework made it possible for all religious groups to gain legal protection. The freedom to practice one's own religion is the reason why the colonists settled and founded this great country. That is the primary reason why people left England, to seek religious freedom. The Founding Fathers did not believe that government and religion had to be entirely separate, however.…”