According to United States law, discrimination in religious context is unlawful and usually punishable by law. From as early as the country's founding, religious freedoms have been of the utmost importance. The first amendment in the constitution specifies that freedom of religion is an unalienable right, one that cannot be take away. Being that United States was founded on religious freedom, there is no disputing that the law prohibits religious discrimination. In addition to the constitutional right, individuals are also granted with further protection under the Civil Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act, and various other federal legislation and/or local laws. If an individual or group is found guilty of unlawful religious discrimination, there can actually be substantial penalties in order. Common occurrences of unlawful discrimination can be seen in education, employment, and housing - refusing to offer educational opportunities, denying housing, terminating employment, or otherwise preventing a person's right to life and religious freedom is illegal.