I agree with the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution about freedom of religion in the United States. I think it is fine for people to wear crosses and other religious things in public. What people wear is not always the problem. The problem arises when people become too extreme about religion. There is no threat when it comes to wearing Christian or Islamic related items. There is a problem when people impose their religious views on others. People should not use violence to make others fall in line with their religious beliefs. What the Taliban in Afghanistan does to impose certain religious views on others is wrong.
I believe it is important for people to be exposed to other people of different faiths. I think this offers more advantages than disadvantages. People are not as prejudice and negative toward people of different faiths when they understand differences. This concept is similar to racial situations. White people now are not as prejudice toward black people as they were in the 1950s and 1960s because there has been integration. White people now are used to being around black people. Many white and black people are now friends.
I believe it is wrong to fight over religion. The function of religion should be to promote peace and influence people to live good and moral lives. People tend to see their religion as too much of a social identity and heritage rather than a philosophy that encourages people to live peacefully and morally. I see religion as something that would support being tolerant of people of different faiths. Others may see it as something that promotes violence against those who are considered to be disbelievers. I think that religion has helped and hurt mankind. Religion can be as much of a strength as it is a weakness.