From the founding generation to the present day, courageous Americans have defended the principle that government must never coerce religious belief or practice. Their advocacy has shaped landmark legislation, Supreme Court precedents, and a living constitutional tradition that protects the right of every citizen to worship—or not worship—according to conscience.
Founding Visionaries
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. His eloquent defense of the separation of church and state became a cornerstone of the First Amendment.
James Madison
Father of the Bill of Rights. Madison fought tirelessly to ensure religious liberty was enshrined as a fundamental constitutional protection for all citizens.
Roger Williams
Founder of Rhode Island and early champion of “soul liberty.” He established the first government in America that guaranteed complete religious freedom.
Contemporary Advocates
Alliance Defending Freedom
Leading legal organization that has argued and won numerous Supreme Court cases protecting religious liberty, free speech, and parental rights.
Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
Nonprofit law firm that litigates landmark cases defending the religious rights of all faiths, from Little Sisters of the Poor to Native American religious practices.
Russell Moore
Prominent evangelical leader and public theologian who has consistently advocated for religious freedom as a foundational American and Christian value.
“Religious freedom is not a privilege granted by the state—it is a right endowed by our Creator and secured by the Constitution. Those who defend it safeguard the liberty of every American.”