What James Madison can teach Americans about religious freedom today

For Madison, religious freedom was not a tool for political domination. Rather, he saw it as a constitutional safeguard for liberty and democracy.

By: Corey D. B. Walker, Wake Forest University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 9, 2026

Words: 1,079

Last Updated: 18 hours, 14 minutes ago

Body Text Preview

By Corey D. B. Walker, Wake Forest University

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, debates about religious freedom continue to occupy the center of American public life.

Since taking office for a second time, the Trump administration has issued a number of executive orders on religion that raise new questions about religious freedom. On May 1, 2025, the administration established the Religious Liberty Commission. The commission will advise …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us