Religious Freedom as a Human Right: An International Overview Focusing on Brazil

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Antonio Klaus Junior
Keyword(s):  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Human Right

Religious Freedom in Islam

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Philpott
Keyword(s):  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Muslim World ◽  
Human Right ◽  
The West ◽  
Empirical Examination ◽  
Public Controversy ◽  
Arab Uprisings ◽  
Islamic Tradition ◽  
The World ◽  
Muslim Majority

Is Islam hospitable to religious freedom? The question is at the heart of a public controversy over Islam that has raged in the West over the past decade-and-a-half. Religious freedom is important because it promotes democracy and peace and reduces ills like civil war, terrorism, and violence. Religious freedom also is simply a matter of justice—not an exclusively Western principle but rather a universal human right rooted in human nature. The heart of the book confronts the question of Islam and religious freedom through an empirical examination of Muslim-majority countries. From a satellite view, looking at these countries in the aggregate, the book finds that the Muslim world is far less free than the rest of the world. Zooming in more closely on Muslim-majority countries, though, the picture looks more diverse. Some one-fourth of Muslim-majority countries are in fact religiously free. Among the unfree, 40% are repressive because they are governed by a hostile secularism imported from the West, and the other 60% are Islamist. The emergent picture is both honest and hopeful. Amplifying hope are two chapters that identify “seeds of freedom” in the Islamic tradition and that present the Catholic Church’s long road to religious freedom as a promising model for Islam. Another chapter looks at the Arab Uprisings of 2011, arguing that religious freedom explains much about both their broad failure and their isolated success. The book closes with lessons for expanding religious freedom in the Muslim world and the world at large.

In Defense of Religious Freedom

2019 ◽  
pp. 16-44
Author(s):  
Daniel Philpott
Keyword(s):  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Human Right ◽  
The West ◽  
Foreign Policies ◽  
The Law ◽  
New Critics

This chapter makes the case for religious freedom as a universal human right. It argues that religion is a universal human phenomenon and a good that merits protection by the law. It argues against the “new critics,” who hold that there is no universal phenomenon called religion, that religion and religious freedom are inventions of the modern West and have deep Protestant roots, that the West has imposed religious freedom through its power in colonialist and imperialist fashion, particularly vis-à-vis Islam, and that religious freedom ought not to be exported through the foreign policies of Western states. To each of these assertions, the chapter offers counterarguments.

scholarly journals International Religious Freedom Promotion and US Foreign Policy

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Marsden
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Human Right ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Politics And Religion ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
Political Background

The freedom to practice one’s religious belief is a fundamental human right and yet, for millions of people around the world, this right is denied. Yearly reports produced by the US State Department, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Open Doors International, Aid to the Church in Need and Release International reveal a disturbing picture of increased religious persecution across much of the world conducted at individual, community and state level conducted by secular, religious, terrorist and state actors. While religious actors both contribute to persecution of those of other faiths and beliefs and are involved in peace and reconciliation initiatives, the acceptance of the freedom to practice one’s faith, to disseminate that faith and to change one’s faith and belief is fundamental to considerations of the intersection of peace, politics and religion. In this article, I examine the political background of the United States’ promotion of international religious freedom, and current progress on advancing this under the Trump administration. International Religious Freedom (IRF) is contentious, and seen by many as the advancement of US national interests by other means. This article argues that through an examination of the accomplishments and various critiques of the IRF programme it is possible, and desirable, to discover what works, and where further progress needs to be made, in order to enable people around the world to enjoy freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

scholarly journals Godsdiensverskeidenheid, -onverdraagsaamheid en -vryheid. ’n Prinsipiële besinning (1)

2005 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Religious Diversity ◽  
Religious Conflict ◽  
Human Right ◽  
World Religions ◽  
Vital Importance ◽  
Mutual Contact ◽  
Religious Convictions ◽  
People Today

Religious diversity, intolerance and freedom: A principial reflection (1) This essay as well as a following one attempts to address six interrelated problems – of vital importance for Christians – in contemporary societies: People today live in a world of growing religious diversity and contact in the same country and city. Apart from well-known world religions, this diversity includes different kinds of revived pre-Christian religions as well as brand-new cults. Does the secular model offer a solution for handling the great diversity and mutual contact/conflict among religions? People often do bad things in the name of their religious convictions. How could this kind of intolerance – even violence – be explained? The constitutions of most con- temporary countries guarantee religious freedom. Is this basic human right fully – also structurally – realised? In the follow-up article three issues, closely related to the three previous problems, will be discussed: If religions are legally equal, does it also imply that they are equal in nature, that every one of them can be regarded as true? If Christians reject the principial equality of all religions, in what sense can Christianity be regarded as unique? In the light of the danger of religious conflict, what should be the ground(s) for and the nature of religious tolerance?

A Delicate Balance: Religious Autonomy Rights and lgbti Rights in Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Baines
Keyword(s):  
Legal System ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
The Other ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Human Right ◽  
The Status ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right

This article addresses a research gap by analysing the way the Australian legal system is balancing the right to religious autonomy of organisations and the right of lgbti individuals not to be discriminated against, and considers what ought to be the case. I argue that the Australian legal system recognises the value of religious freedom on the one hand, and on the other hand, does not place a high priority on protecting it as an existing human right. My findings reveal that the Australian legal system is not always defining the religion and society relationship in ways that reflect the lived reality of religion in society. The issue is compounded by the wording of religious exemptions under anti-discrimination law which is contested within faith communities. As a consequence, religious freedom can be unfairly restricted. I conclude with recommendations to improve the status quo.

The Right to Religious Freedom, with Particular Reference to Same-Sex Marriage

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-179
Author(s):  
Michael J. Perry
Keyword(s):  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Same Sex Marriage ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
Civil Marriage ◽  
The Right

In this essay, I elaborate and defend the internationally recognized human right to religious freedom. I then pursue the implications of the right for government’s exclusion of same-sex couples from of civil marriage.

The Human Right of Religious Freedom in International Law

Peace Review ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-410
Author(s):  
Daniel Wehrenfennig
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Human Right

scholarly journals Religious freedom as a universal value

2019 ◽  
pp. 18-22
Author(s):  
Natalia Kutuzova
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Personal Autonomy ◽  
Freedom Of Religion ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Freedom Of Thought ◽  
The Right

The article substantiates the universal value of religious freedom, based on the fundamental human right to freedom of religion and belief. Referring to the relevant international documents, the author reveals the content of the concept of "religious freedom" and concludes that there are two basic values at the heart of human rights: human dignity and equality. Only a systematic approach to freedom of religion in the human rights complex gives them universal value. There are two components to freedom of religion (belief): freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; the right to profess one's religion or belief. Religious freedom has both a universal and a private dimension. Being secular in nature, freedom of religion is especially evident in modern societies, which secularity and inclusivity empowers people to decide for themselves about their religiosity. The article deals with the restrictions that exist for religious freedom. Often the right to practice one's religion comes into conflict with different rights of other people. The protection of these rights must come from the principles of non-discrimination, neutrality and impartiality, respect for the right to religion, pluralism and tolerance, institutional and personal autonomy, lack of a hierarchy of human rights. The article argues that religious freedom is a universal value and right in the human rights complex.

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