|
religiousfreedom
Introduction
In some societies, it can be all too easy to take the right to freedom of religion and belief for granted. We might not know, for example, what it would feel like to be put in jail for professing a genuine faith or belief system.What if, as a religious minority, we were denied opportunities to go to school, to receive pensions, to keep our jobs, or to have our marriages registered? What if we went to a private home for a religious class and always had to worry whether authorities would raid that home and confiscate the literature? Or, what if we went to our place of worship anticipating that this spot which is holy to us might soon be demolished or destroyed?
All of these things do happen to some people. In extreme cases, admitting to believing in a certain way risks a death warrant, regardless of whether those beliefs are a private matter or become a public manifestation. Just to believe in a way which is different from the accepted norm is enough to single you out for some form of persecution, little or big. It’s hard for some of us to imagine a life like that.
How strongly would we need to believe to withstand that kind of persecution and discrimination? Would we measure up to the test? Would our faith be strong enough? Why does it matter to me?
You may not be personally religious and non-belief, or secularism, is an equally protected international right. Even if this is the case, how people define their religious and belief commitments remains a key element of politics and human rights. Freedom of religion and belief does matter, even if it is an often overlooked area of international affairs. Unfortunately, those experts who follow the subject generally claim that the situation of freedom of religion and belief has deteriorated over the past decade.
While the West may think of itself as mainly secular, religious or other belief identities still play a major role in social cohesion or breakdown in every country. Furthermore, no country is immune from experiencing various forms of religious discrimination, regardless of whether rights to freedom of belief are enshrined in a country’s constitution. Even in Europe, legislative initiatives are being put forward that restrict the rights of religious or belief communities to openly practise their faith. In some countries, the rights and privileges accorded to ‘traditional’ faith groups are greater than those granted to minority faiths.
While you may not be persecuted
for your beliefs, there’s no guarantee that there will not be
a time (and a place) that you find yourself in a different situation.
Thus, making sure that all have the freedom to worship as they wish
is in everyone’s longer term interest.
For some quotes on religious freedom Read more
Contents
/ Introduction / Persecution
Types / Immunity /
Global Case Studies / United Nations
/ Right&Responsibilities / Hard
Questions / Interfaith Initiatives
/ Summary / Inspiration
/ Resources
| © International
interfaith organisations network 2003 |