Andrew L. Seidel

Andrew L. Seidel is an attorney and author. He is the Director of Strategic Response at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, where he uses his law degree to challenge religious bullies. He is one of the few attorneys in the country to have argued a religious test clause case. His first book The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American hits shelves in May. Renowned constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky who described it as “a beautifully written book” that “explodes a frequently expressed myth: that the United States was created as a Christian nation.” When not fighting for the First Amendment, Andrew writes for Think Progress, Religion News Service, Rewire News and elsewhere. Follow Andrew on social media: @AndrewLSeidel

Trump White House Cranks Religion to 11 As Impeachment Looms

Andrew L. Seidel

Nixon asked people to pray for him and ended with “God bless America” to remind the nation that he was religious and therefore moral, and thus either innocent or deserving of forgiveness. Trump is doing the same with his gaggle of evangelical bootlickers.

The Religious Motto That Isn’t Religious: How ‘In God We Trust’ Remains Constitutional [Part 2]

Andrew L. Seidel

It turns out that Christian activists are perfectly willing to let federal judges desecrate their religion, so long as the desecration also allows them to promote their religion.

The Story of ‘In God We Trust,’ Our Christian Nationalist Motto [Part 1]

Andrew L. Seidel

This story should sound familiar, especially given the blame thrown at godlessness in the wake of mass shootings and the "thoughts and prayers" offered as a “solution.”

The Latest Attempts to Get ‘In God We Trust’ Into Schools is a Coordinated Christian Nationalist Push [Part 3]

Andrew L. Seidel

Project Blitz and legislators like Reed, who are willing to nationalize Christianity, threaten our Constitution.

Clergy Shouldn’t Be Able to Steal Funds for Grindr or Dolls

Andrew L. Seidel

We could debate whether immoral people seek out positions in the clergy or whether clerical life corrupts people, but that debate misses the point.

Is God a Winning Strategy for Democrats?

Andrew L. Seidel

Pete Buttigieg and other Democrats have begun to talk up their Christian beliefs in hope of appealing to more voters, but there are a few problems with that approach.

SCOTUS’ Bladensburg Cross Ruling Is a Church-State Mess

Andrew L. Seidel

Alito’s majority opinion is bereft of both principle and reason. He could have been more concise and lost little nuance by simply writing: 'The 40ft tall Christian cross is really old and people will get upset if we remove it, so it stays.'

National Day of Prayer Is Illegal, But Courts Won’t Hear Challenges

Andrew L. Seidel

In 2010 the district court correctly decided that the National Day of Prayer violated the First Amendment: “Its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function.” On appeal, the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not disagree—it couldn’t—but it tossed the case.

Government Prayer Isn’t Inclusive—Let’s Not Pretend Otherwise

Andrew L. Seidel

In the run up to Easter and the National Day of Prayer, chaplains and guest chaplains around the nation have sowed religious division and discord as they delivered prayers at state legislatures, and now, federal courts are giving them their stamp of approval.

Justice Thomas Fails on Religious Test Answer

Andrew L. Seidel

Thomas's opinion on religious tests wasn't about right or wrong, or even of the Constitution, it's a political argument designed to muzzle such questions in hopes of easing and paving a path for conservative justices who would place faith above the Constitution.

Andrew L. Seidel

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