Freedom of religion

Freedom of religion is one of the human rights. It is composed of freedom of belief for the individual and freedom of worship for individuals and groups.

Freedom of religion in History

Historically "freedom of religion" has been used by academia to define different theological systems of belief, while "freedom of worship" was originally defined as individual action.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During history some countries have accepted some form of freedom of worship, though in actual practice that theoretical freedom was delimited through punitive taxation, repressive social legislation and political disenfranchisement. Compare examples of individual freedom in Poland or the Muslim tradition of dhimmis, literally "protected individuals" professing an officially tolerated non-Muslim religion.

Related Topics:
Poland - Muslim - Dhimmi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Antiquity

In Antiquity a syncretic point-of-view often allowed communities of traders to operate under their own customs. When street mobs of separate quarters clashed in a Hellenistic or Roman city, the issue was generally perceived to be an infringement of community rights. The Greek-Jewish clashes at Cyrene provided one example of cosmopolitan cities as scenes of tumult.

Related Topics:
Antiquity - Syncretic - Hellenistic - Roman city - Cyrene

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some of the historical exceptions have been in regions where one of the revealed religions has been in a position of power: Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Islam. Others have been where the established order has felt threatened, as shown in the trial of Socrates or where the ruler has been deified, as in Rome or the Persian empire, and refusal to offer token sacrifice was similar to refusing to take an oath of allegiance. This was the core for resentment and the persecution of early Christian communities.

Related Topics:
Judaism - Zoroastrianism - Christianity - Islam - Trial of Socrates - Sacrifice - Oath of allegiance - Persecution of early Christian communities

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Freedom of worship in India was encapsulated in an inscription of Asoka:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

King Piyadasi (Ashok) dear to the Gods, honours all sects, the ascetics (hermits) or those who dwell at home, he honours them with charity and in other ways. But the King, dear to the Gods, attributes less importance to this charity and these honours than to the vow of seeing the reign of virtues, which constitutes the essential part of them. For all these virtues there is a common source, modesty of speech. That is to say, One must not exalt one’s creed discrediting all others, nor must one degrade these others Without legitimate reasons. One must, on the contrary, render to other creeds the honour befitting them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In most parts of European society there was no individual freedom of worship from the suppression of non-Christian worship with the Theodosian decrees of 391 AD, under the influence of Ambrose of Milan until the Enlightenment of the 18th century.

Related Topics:
Theodosian decrees - Ambrose of Milan - The Enlightenment - 18th century

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

European Middle Ages

In Western Europe during most of the Middle Ages, Roman Catholicism was the official religion. Roman Catholicism was practiced by both the rulers and almost all of their subjects with all other religious practices being prosecuted as heresy for which a typical penalty was burning at the stake. This lack of religious freedom resulted in various crusades, including one fought against the Albigeois. Jews were tolerated in most countries, but they suffered from various restrictions and repeated repression.

Related Topics:
Western Europe - Middle Ages - Roman Catholicism - Heresy - Burning at the stake - Crusades - Albigeois - Jew

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Reformation Times

Following the Reformation, Wars of Religion erupted in many European countries between Catholic and Protestant factions. In most feudal countries the religion of the ruler was the official religion (under the principle of cuius regio eius religio) and other religions were either tolerated or persecuted.

Related Topics:
Reformation - Wars of Religion - Protestant - Cuius regio eius religio

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

King Henry IV of France was a Protestant who converted to Catholicism. He guaranteed limited freedom for Protestants which were repealed by his grandson Louis XIV. In all countries, whether Protestant or Catholic, criticism of Christianity or advocacy of atheism were prosecutable offenses.

Related Topics:
King Henry IV - France - Louis XIV

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

United States of America

The modern legal concept of religions freedom as the union of freedom of belief and freedom of worship with the absence of any state-sponsored religion, originated in the United States of America. The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was written in 1779 by Thomas Jefferson. It proclaimed:

Related Topics:
United States of America - Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom - 1779 - Thomas Jefferson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:"o man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In U.S. law, freedom of religion is based on the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which declares:

Related Topics:
U.S. law - First Amendment - United States Constitution

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Consequently the USA has become a nation of many religious institutions which flourish under the freedom of legal protection by local, state and federal governments.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1944 a joint committee of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America and the Foreign Missions Conference of North America, formulated a Statement on Religious Liberty:

Related Topics:
1944 - Council of Churches of Christ - Foreign Missions Conference

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Religious Liberty shall be interpreted to include freedom to worship according to conscience and to bring up children in the faith of their parents; freedom for the individual to change his religion; freedom to preach, educate, publish and carry on missionary activities; and freedom to organise with others, and to acquire and hold property, for these purposes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

France

In June 1789, the French Revolution brought about a dramatic change in perception of this subject with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The history of France at this point in time was greatly influenced by the development of the United States and its founding Declaration of Independence.

Related Topics:
June - 1789 - French Revolution - Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen - United States - Declaration of Independence

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~