How has the Supreme Court interpreted the establishment of religion clause of the First Amendment?

The Supreme Court of the United States has interpreted the establishment of religion clause of the First Amendment as prohibiting government action that either directly establishes a religion, or that excessively entangles government with religious matters. In the Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) case, the Court established a three-pronged test to determine if government action in relation to religion violates the First Amendment. The Lemon test requires that the law in question have a secular purpose, that its primary effect neither advances nor inhibits religion, and that it does not excessively entangle the government with religion. The Court has relied on the Lemon test in a variety of subsequent cases and has consistently held that government action cannot have the primary effect of advancing religion and must be secular in nature. In several cases, the Court has held that laws that directly impede the exercise of religion, such as laws prohibiting religious services, are unconstitutional because they constitute an impermissible establishment of religion. The Court has also held that government aid to religious schools and other religious activities, while permissible, must be carefully monitored to ensure that it does not have the primary effect of advancing religion. In Virginia, the Supreme Court has continued to apply the Lemon test in cases involving the establishment of religion clause of the First Amendment. The Court has consistently held that government action that either directly establishes a religion or excessively entangles government with religious matters is prohibited. In addition, the Court has held that government aid to religious schools and activities must be administered in a manner that does not have the primary effect of advancing religion.

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How has the Supreme Court interpreted the establishment of religion clause of the First Amendment?

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