In secular democracies

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Name
Course
Date
Constitutions characteristically have an impact on how state authorities and religious
institutions relate. In several instances, to a certain degree, the constitution makes a foundation
and provides a structure under which the correlation between religious institutions and political
system legally. Even the protection impartiality and the secular nature of the state is as viewed
by the religious institutions is envisaged other constitutions. A majority, of people all over the
world, believe that identity by religious affiliation is a fundamental element of national and
social status; and to some extent recognized by the constitution. The aspiration to grant defense
for diverse nature of religion in some cases is a factor to consider in the structuring of the
constitution to create room for the legal rights of the religious institutions and affiliations.
However, in pursuant to recognition of religious institutions’ rights has a conspicuously
detrimental effect on the legal framework of the constitutions as it does not cover the people who
are not affiliated with any religious group. The chances of causing inter-religion disquiet are also
eminent in case one religious group feels that a particular religious group is favored
constitutionally than the other.
Generally and constitutionally in some constitutions around the world, the government’s
role is constricted concerning the religion and religious institutions though it is indubitable that
the facilitation of the government functions is a responsibility of human.Conceivably, the
religious influence on the character and responsibility of those who are tasked to discharge
government responsibilities is practically questionable. The common belief is that it does in
numerous cases.
1
1
Hirschl, Ran. Constitutional theocracy. Harvard University Press, 2011.
The neutral political stance gives recognition to the legality and honest inevitability of the
conviction of the religion while averting the institution of any faith. In fact, neutrality of the state
in another perspective portrays religion in a negative light thus endeavors to set up its
incredibility as an underline reifying the existence of the government. Under the inspiration of
his latest visit to Turkey, McClay is of the view that the initial comprehension of the state
neutrality to religion was the core of the vision of those who it is ascribed to ultimately resulting
to a distinctive as well as unsatisfactory interaction in American social life between the
government and religion.
2
Almost every religion tends to focus mainly on a couple of aspects of human living. The
most critical aspect in its focus is how human relates with the Supreme Being that is God and
provides a prescription for the particular types of prayers in accordance with the religion to
reinforce and maintain a good link with God. Secondly, the religious belief determines an
individual’s interaction with friends, family, and relatives. The expectations are doctrines of
many religions dictate that the members to treat the non-members and even the members in a
way that glorifies the name of God. In this view, the religion sets the moral standards of
behaviors and values that the members should emulate. In spite of inter-religious diversity, the
main religions in the world have an enormous universal confluence.
3
2
McConnell, Michael W. "Religious freedom at a crossroads." The University of Chicago Law
Review 59, no. 1 (1992): 115-194.
3
Hirschl, Ran. Constitutional theocracy. Harvard University Press, 2011.
Whichever act be it, political, social or political with an influence on the wellbeing of an
individual is regarded as encompassing either moral dimension or ethical dimension. The entire
leadership, diplomatic, political and even social deduces their observation value opinion.
4
In this view, religion is a standard set of values of morality that that is obligated to ensure
the wellbeing of a human being. Additionally, it is perceptible that religions historically have
drawn a clear line between what is considered holy and the dull and ordinary thus upholding a
stringent spot of impartiality in regard to the political sphere and are today more involved in
global affairs outside the long-established role and past the community faith.
5
For instance, the
religion has been more vocal in the recent past in condemning terrorism, other vices that are
inhuman and for such efforts, they are commended around the world.
The significant and perceptible function of the government is to ensure freedom of
religion is a collective right. These entail several concerning issues from religion to outside
religion. In a social and political aspect, they are inescapable for any government of the day all
over the world to have a stance on these issues. Assuming that religion is not involved in
political spheres, but its tropes are still noticeable in ethically and morally in the implementation
of government policy.
4
Duncan, Richard F. "Who Wants to Stop the Church: Homosexual Rights Legislation, Public
Policy, and Religious Freedom." Notre Dame L. Rev. 69 (1993): 393.
5
McConnell, Michael W. "Religious freedom at a crossroads." The University of Chicago Law
Review 59, no. 1 (1992): 115-194.
In Dec. 7
th
1965, the Catholic Church made public an imperative document in regard
freedom of religion and fundamental human right in relation to freedom of religion; this was at
2
nd
Vatican Council
6
. This significant document fostered the individual basic rights to choice of
religion devoid of coercive forces and emphasized on the government’s key role in assuring
freedom of religion to its citizens without fear or favor. In the beginning, this document
highlights that the government should make certain that it is the constitutional powers do not do
not any anyway tend to intrude on the basic rights of an individual to associate and religion. In
this view, the requirement for free will in the society principally observes the pursuit for the
worthiness of the spirit of a human.
According to this document, the Council identified that in a vast number of nations the
government only advocates for the freedom of religion by words but not practical and to some
extent, the government infringes the citizens the right to freedom of religion.
In the declaration of freedom to religion, nearly 50 years have passed since the Catholic
Church emphasize that the prerequisite of peace all and harmony all over the world is to
guarantee the freedom of religion because it is a necessity everywhere.
7
And to achieve this, the
posture of the constitution should be made in a way that supports this.
6
Ahmed, Dawood I., and Tom Ginsburg. "Constitutional Islamization and human rights: The
surprising origin and spread of Islamic supremacy in constitutions." Va. J. Int'l L. 54
(2013): 615.
7
McConnell, Michael W. "Religious freedom at a crossroads." The University of Chicago Law
Review 59, no. 1 (1992): 115-194.
Currently, there are states across the world where there exists a blurred line between the
religion and the government. In such cases, the government overtly is not willing to assure
citizens of the religious freedom. The process of having freedom of religion begins with a
consideration of the religion and state correlation when designing the constitution.Along with
this line, the design of the constitution should ensure that the there is no friction between the
secular government religion.
8
By control, the relationship between the religion and the state and
other influential organizations in the society the freedom of religion can be accomplished, and
this can only be guaranteed through a legal framework that is well balanced in the light of justice
and fairness.
Across history, most states are based on a close placement of religion as well as civil
authorities. Thus the understanding of almost every pre-modern society has grounded its
perceptive of legitimate political power on godly origins.
9
For instance, emperor devotion,
coupled with theocracy with the utter monarchy, was an element present in ancient China,
including Egypt and Japan. Besides Ahmed says that the ancient Greco-Roman city-states had
their independent civic deities, shrines as well as priesthoods and the institutions of religions
which were perceived as the integral components of the constitution of the state. As well, the
kingdoms, republics, and principalities of Medieval Western Christendom indeed were
8
Hamoudi, Haider Ala. "Ornamental Repugnancy: Identitarian Islam and the Iraqi
Constitution." U. St. Thomas LJ 7 (2009): 692.
9
Sullivan, Winnifred Fallers. The impossibility of religious freedom. Princeton University Press,
2011.
incorporated into a transitional system of religious power which the Pope is the head
10
. Similarly,
on the Islamic states, the order of law conventionally had a basis on religion, with the
responsibilities of Calph and sultan put assigned to one individual. For instance, Minersville v.
Gobitas (1940): The court ruled that the flag-salute law of Pennsylvania following religious
freedom should not interfere with political power which was upturned in West Virginia v.
Barnette (1943).
11
Apparently, religious freedoms, as well as the freedom that emanates from religious
oppression, are almost commonly acknowledged elements of liberal democracy. Thus, Laborde
said that no country in the world could brag of having democracy and having independence
without permitting religious freedom including free practice of their beliefs which includes the
rights and freedoms of minorities and those of dissenters in terms of religion. Thus, I can fight so
hard to ensure that such ancient acknowledgment of religious freedom as a global norm is
recognized by the federal constitution and just as the rights of expressions.
12
As a result of law
10
Ahmed, Dawood I., and Tom Ginsburg. "Constitutional Islamization and human rights: The
surprising origin and spread of Islamic supremacy in constitutions." Va. J. Int'l L. 54
(2013): 615.
11
Laborde, Cécile. "Religious Freedom, US Law, and Liberal Political Theory." Journal of the
American Academy of Religion(2018).
12
Danchin, Peter G., and Saba Mahmood. "Politics of religious freedom: Contested genealogies."
(2014).
process and freedom from religious discrimination, there should be particular foundations in the
constitutions that bear link the state and religion. An open democratic state cannot (a) bar
peaceful expression of one’s religious beliefs and practices provided that the process does not
interfere with public peace or the rights of others. (B) Put into effect unity religious matters
beliefs or practices. (c) Forces or show favoritism against people in regards to their religious
faith or identity. Such baselines essentially allow for some independence and pluralism in issues
of religion, eliminating both the subjugation of religion by a stated as well as state coercion in
such matters.
13
Nevertheless, they create a wide leeway for various means of religion-state
relationships within the constitutional category.
In sum, article VI section 3 says that there is no religious test will ever need an entry to
any public or office in the United States. The U.S will never make policies respecting the
creation of religion or preventing the freedom of exercising the same. Consequently, religion-
state detachment does not prohibit the public expression of religiosity in America. For instance,
the president is often established in the office with prayers, as well public executives, in general,
take their oath of office using the religious book. Thus in Hein v. Freedom from Religion
Foundation (2007): After the administration of President Bush formed the office of the Faith-
based as well as community programs of the sole reasons of permitting religious charity groups
13
McConnell, Michael W. "Religious freedom at a crossroads." The University of Chicago Law
Review 59, no. 1 (1992): 115-194.
to get federal funding.
14
There was a ruling made by the court that the taxpayers advance the
Establishment Clause issue against such initiatives which are established by the executive.
Although significantly, they normally go through that process as a matter of their own
choice or sometimes due to social custom but not that they are commanded to do so by any
regulation or law.
14
Hamoudi, Haider Ala. "Ornamental Repugnancy: Identitarian Islam and the Iraqi
Constitution." U. St. Thomas LJ 7 (2009): 692.
Bibliographies
Ahmed, Dawood I., and Tom Ginsburg. "Constitutional Islamization and human rights: The
surprising origin and spread of Islamic supremacy in constitutions." Va. J. Int'l L. 54
(2013): 615.
Danchin, Peter G., and Saba Mahmood. "Politics of religious freedom: Contested genealogies."
(2014).
Duncan, Richard F. "Who Wants to Stop the Church: Homosexual Rights Legislation, Public
Policy, and Religious Freedom." Notre Dame L. Rev. 69 (1993): 393.
Hamoudi, Haider Ala. "Ornamental Repugnancy: Identitarian Islam and the Iraqi
Constitution." U. St. Thomas LJ 7 (2009): 692.
Hirschl, Ran. Constitutional theocracy. Harvard University Press, 2011.
Laborde, Cécile. "Religious Freedom, US Law, and Liberal Political Theory." Journal of the
American Academy of Religion(2018).
McConnell, Michael W. "Religious freedom at a crossroads." The University of Chicago Law
Review 59, no. 1 (1992): 115-194.
Sullivan, Winnifred Fallers. The impossibility of religious freedom. Princeton University Press,
2011.

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