Religious freedom in the United States has faced significant challenges since the 1962 Supreme Court ruling against prayer in public schools, despite the Bill of Rights explicitly stating that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The government has increasingly restricted religion in the public square, reinterpreting freedom of religion as freedom from religion, with Christianity, the primary religion of Americans, being the main target. The pace of these restrictions has intensified in recent years, with numerous incidents illustrating the erosion of religious liberty. Examples of these infringements include a Christian photography company in New Mexico being forced to close after declining to photograph a homosexual couple's commitment ceremony, as the state's Supreme Court ruled that the law required the owners to compromise their beliefs. In San Diego, four Christian firefighters faced disciplinary action for refusing to participate in a Gay Pride parade, enduring verbal abuse and sexual gestures, though they later won a lawsuit and received damages. An Oklahoma bank was compelled to remove Bible verses from its website and crosses from teller stations after a visit from Federal Reserve employees. A Missouri university threatened to withhold a Christian student's degree for refusing to support homosexual adoption in a letter to the state legislature. In New Jersey, a second-grade student was barred from singing a song with religious content in an after-school talent show, and a similar incident occurred in Florida where a girl was forbidden to sing a song mentioning the Lord. Further instances include a New York hospital threatening a pro-life nurse with termination for refusing to participate in a late-term abortion, despite prior agreements respecting her convictions. Florida withheld grant money from students at Florida Christian College for not meeting secularity standards, though a lawsuit reversed this policy. The Centers for Disease Control fired a Christian counselor for refusing to lie about referring clients with same-sex relationship issues to other counselors. A third-grader in Texas was prohibited from including a religious message in goodie bags at a school party, and a Cisco employee was fired for his personal belief in traditional marriage, expressed outside of work. These cases, among nearly 1,200 documented by Liberty Institute, reveal a widespread trend of limiting religious freedoms across federal, state, and local governments, schools, universities, institutions, corporations, and community groups. While some court rulings have recognized violations of the First Amendment, many of these restrictions have become legal precedent. The cultural shift in America prioritizes other freedoms over religious liberty, often targeting Christians as obstacles to progress, employing legal maneuvers to marginalize their voice in society.

The American Constitution ensures freedom of religion in the United States through its First Amendment, which declares that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. We need not fear the coming days when our religious freedom will be stolen, though they will be dreadful and dark, and some will lose their lives. If we commit ourselves to living righteously, we have the assurance of our faithful Creator that we will receive salvation and great reward in His Kingdom.

In Canada, religious freedom faces significant challenges as various institutions impose restrictions on personal beliefs. The British Columbia College of Teachers denied a license to Trinity Western University, affiliated with evangelical groups, due to its code of conduct prohibiting homosexual relationships, though the college ultimately prevailed on appeal. A print shop owner was fined $5,000 by the Ontario Human Rights Commission for refusing, on religious grounds, to print materials for the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Archives, demonstrating that religious beliefs do not exempt one from serving certain groups. A religious high school was ordered by a court to admit a male student and his boyfriend to the prom, with the case still under appeal. Legislation passed by the Canadian House of Commons adds sexual orientation to 'hate speech' categories, potentially criminalizing public expressions of moral judgments on homosexuality if approved by the Senate, which could even penalize ministers for preaching on the subject. Additionally, the organization regulating pharmacists mandates dispensing contraceptives and abortifacients, overriding personal conscience by requiring referrals, rendering objections ineffective. A medical student faced penalties for refusing to perform abortions, with no protection under the Canadian Medical Association's conscience clause, and the case remains under review, signaling potential punishment for dissenting views in medical schools. Religious liberty in Canada appears to be barely sustained amidst these mounting pressures.

The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution declares that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Recognized as the first freedom, this right ensures that neither the nation nor the states can establish an official religion or interfere with a citizen's practice of faith. However, over the last couple of centuries, this freedom has been eroded as governments at both state and federal levels have regulated religious practices, such as in cases where Christian businesses face penalties for refusing service based on personal convictions or zoning laws prohibit religious meetings in private homes. Recent emergency powers exercised during the coronavirus pandemic have raised concerns about the targeting of religious freedom. Some governors and mayors have specifically excluded churches from restrictive orders, while others have prohibited the free exercise of religion within their jurisdictions. In Louisville, a mayor threatened action against participants of a drive-in Easter service, despite compliance with social distancing by remaining in cars. Similarly, in Nevada, drive-in services were banned, and in Mendocino County, California, public health authorities restricted churches from including singing in video-streamed services due to health concerns. Other states and municipalities have imposed severe restrictions on congregational services, with some preachers arrested and services disrupted. These actions by certain jurisdictions exceed constitutional authority by targeting religious believers and congregations in ways not applied to other segments of society. In response, a U.S. District Court Judge in Western Kentucky issued a temporary restraining order against Louisville's mayor, deeming the decision to prevent drive-in church gatherings as stunning and beyond all reason unconstitutional. While most anti-religious orders have been overturned or rescinded, the persistent efforts of some lawmakers to impose targeted prohibitions during crises reveal a continued challenge to the free exercise of faith.