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Spirituality, human rights and religious truth

Menu:

Two meanings of religious freedom & liberty:
1. Freedom of beliefs, speech, & practices and
2. Freedom to restrict services to, to hate, to
denigrate, or to oppress others.


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About the meanings of the terms "religious freedom" and "religious liberty:"

These terms once always referred to an individual's freedom of religious belief, of religious speech, and of religious practice. The individual believer was the target of oppression by others. That is the meaning that we generally use on this web site.

However, in recent years, the terms seem to be taking on a new meaning: the religious freedom and liberty of a believer to hate, oppress, denigrate, or reduce the human rights of other groups. Now it is the believer who is the oppressor and others who are the target. This new meaning is becoming increasingly common. It appears that this new meaning is begin driven by a number of factors:

Topics covered in this section:

Information about the two meanings of "religious freedom:"

Detailed introduction to the term "religious freedom:"   << We recommend that you read this essay first

Four examples of the conflict:

Two legal cases involving the freedom of religious belief/expression; two involving the freedom to denegrate or refuse to work with others:

Part 1  Part 2

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The new meaning of the term:

The freedom to discriminate and oppress others on religious grounds << Sadly, a large & growing section

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The traditional meaning of the term: to believe, associate with others, and practice religion freely:

bulletStatus of religious freedom:
bullet

Snapshot of religious freedom worldwide during 2010:

bullet

Status of religious freedom in the U.S.

bulletDecline of religious freedom in Europe

bulletThe U.S. government vs. individual religious freedom

bulletDecline of religious freedom in Europe

bulletFreedom House report on religious freedom

bulletReligious freedom and the year 2000 presidential candidates

bulletLack of religious freedom in France

bulletChanging one's religion from Islam to another faith (Irtidad)

bulletReligious clothing and jewelry in U.S. public schools

bulletCanadian religious groups' freedom to discriminate against same-sex marriage
 
bullet Statements, speeches, petitions, etc. on religious freedom and tolerance:
bulletExcerpts:
bulletExcerpts of statements on religious freedom
 
bulletIn the United States:
bulletGuaranteeing personal religious freedom

bulletPetition to regain and preserve religious freedom

bulletWilliamsburg Charter on the First Amendment (1988)

bulletU.N. report on religious freedom in the U.S. (1998)

bulletSpeech by President Clinton on religious freedom (1995)

bulletProclamation on diversity and tolerance in Cedar Rapids, IA.

bulletPersonal pledge of support for religious freedom
 
bulletInternational:
bulletDeclaration of a Global Ethic (1993)
bullet

Excerpts from "The Principles of a Global Ethic"

bulletStatement by UNESCO, on the "Year of Tolerance" (1995)

bulletStatement by Pope John Paul II on the World Day of Peace, (1996)

bulletStatement by the U.S. on freedom of religion in Europe (1999)

bullet The Amman Declaration (1999) concerning the Middle East

bulletThe Geneva Spiritual Appeal (1999) on an end to religious conflict
 
bullet laws and regulations guaranteeing, limiting, or promoting religious freedom:
bullet1777 Thomas Jefferson's bill for religious freedom in Virginia

bullet1786 Virginia's "Act for Establishing Religious Freedom"

bulletThe First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

bulletReligious freedom restoration acts

bulletWorkplace Religious Freedom Act *

bulletU.S. "Freedom from Religious Persecution Act"

bulletReligious rights within the US military

bulletExcerpts of laws guaranteeing religious freedom
 
bulletOther topics:
bullet Links to web sites dealing with religious freedom

bullet

An essay donated by Susan Humphreys: "Do people have the right to believe anything they want? Does religious freedom include the right to hurt others?"

bulletBrief quotations about tolerance

bulletReducing religion-inspired religious conflicts

bulletReligious tolerance and freedom chain letter

bulletConstitutional amendment on religious freedom & compulsory prayer
 
bulletRelated topics:
bulletReligiously motivated religious conflict, oppression, & discrimination menu

bullet Religious laws of the U.S., Canada and other nations

References used:

  1. Paraphrased, with changes, from Forum 18 at: http://www.forum18.org.

  2. Jill Lawless, "Christian employee discriminated against for wearing crucifix, court rules," Associated Press, 2013-JAN-15

Site navigation:

Home > here

or Home > Important essays > here

or Home > Religious information > here

or Home > Human rights > here

Copyright © 2006 to 2013 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally posted: 2006-NOV-05
Latest update: 2013-MAR-10
Author: B.A. Robinson

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