ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Religion in France

Okay kiddo, so in France, the people believe in different religions. Just like how you may go to church or temple with your family, there are people in France who go to a church or mosque or synagogue. Some people believe in Christianity, which is the most common religion there, and some believe in Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, or other religions.

Now, even though people have the freedom to practice their religion, the French government has a law that separates religion and politics. This means that the government can't favor or show preference to any religion. Everyone is treated equally, no matter what religion they follow.

This separation of religion and politics is rooted in France's history. A long time ago, France was ruled by Catholic kings who had a lot of power over the people. But over time, people started to question their authority and fight for more freedom. This led to the French Revolution, which was a big event where the people demanded more rights and freedoms.

After the revolution, the French government decided to separate religion and politics to avoid any one group having too much power. This means that the government can't tell people what to believe or how to practice their religion, but also that religious leaders can't tell the government what to do either.

Some people in France don't like the separation of religion and politics because they believe that religion should have a bigger role in society. Others think that it's very important to keep them separate to protect everyone's rights and keep things fair.

So, in summary, people in France believe in different religions and have the freedom to practice them, but the government is separate from religion to make sure that everyone is treated equally.