What is "the free exercise thereof?"

I'm reading this great book about the principles our founding fathers used when creating the Constitution of the United States called The 5000 Year Leap... it's an amazing book. I strongly recommend everyone get a copy. It's got me thinking...

The First Amendment of the Constitution starts with the following:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

What does the phrase "the free exercise thereof" really mean? Is it limited merely to worship or is it greater than that?

I'm asking because there is a growing pressure by the politicians and special interest groups today to abolish the citizen's "right of conscience."

This right means that a doctor, morally opposed to abortion, can choose not to provide for abortions because it conflicts with their conscience. Take that away and the doctor would be forced to comply, despite the fact that they may consider it a sin or an offense to their beliefs. It would be unlawful for them to live their faith.

Isn't that an infringement on the First Amendment? Doesn't "the free exercise thereof" protect our ability to live our faith? After all, it protects our ability to worship and religion is not limited to Sunday services. Religion, faith, is how we behave, the choices we make, the paths we choose to follow.

Worship does not end as you exit the church doors, it begins.

In my opinion, if you abolish a citizen's "right of conscience" you are infringing on the First Amendment and a believers ability to live their faith, to freely exercise their religion.

Unfortunately, I'm sure this will end up in the courts... the equivalent of playing social Russian roulette.

God help us... again.