Before the First Amendment: Tertullian, Rome, and the Long Road to Religious Freedom #America250

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, ReligiousLiberty.TV explores the ancient roots of religious freedom. Long before the First Amendment, figures like Tertullian argued that belief must be voluntary and not coerced. Ancient Persian rulers practiced pragmatic tolerance, and early Jewish and Christian thinkers defended the right to live by conscience. These ideas form the foundation of modern legal protections. This year, the blog will revisit the long road that led to one of the central values in American law.