You: "In the context it was used back in the day, it was referring to separate Christian denominations. They were called “religions” back then." Thomas Jefferson: “neither Pagan nor Mahamedan [Muslim] nor Jew ought to be excluded from the civil rights of the Commonwealth because of his religion.”
— Thomas Jefferson, quoting John Locke, 1776
Thanks for that great information!
My comment was on the words in the 1st amendment.
Muslim, maybe not “because of his religion” but if anyone wants civil rights they must be civil. You know, not beheading, killing etc.
The predominate belief system back then was Christianity.