Rights & liberties
Free Exercise Clause
Protects the practice of religion from government interference. Neutral, generally applicable laws normally apply, but laws targeting religion face strict scrutiny.
In full
Employment Division v. Smith (1990) held that a neutral law of general applicability does not violate free exercise merely because it burdens a religious practice. Congress responded with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which imposes strict scrutiny on federal action, and many states enacted their own versions. Laws that treat religious conduct worse than comparable secular conduct fail.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.