Proselytism is an integral element of mainstream religions, in particular Christianity and its sects. Its restriction arguably run contrary to the very notion of human rights, undermining the freedom of religion, of association and of speech as enshrined and protected by the UNDR [1]. At the same time however, it needs to be recognized that this is merely scratching the surface of the debate, that there is a parallel in which aggressive proselytizing could at the same time infringe upon the very freedoms of others. So with this contradiction in mind, is there any way to justify laws limiting proselytism for the very sake of religious freedom? What is the stance the human rights regime ought to take? Historically, Islam and Christianity had been spread quite literally, by the sword. Convert or die. Perhaps the biggest justification that there is indeed a need to regulate proselytism would lie with Africa. As elaborated by Makau Mutua in the reference book [2], African religion and the way of life were deeply intertwined. During colonialism, with conversion to Christianity necessary to receive healthcare and education, amounted to ‘cultural genocide’. African traditional beliefs were simply trampled upon and there resulted a void within the people’s identity. Forcibly imposing ones religion on another is fundamentally wrong. As we can see, there are certainly boundaries proselytism cannot cross and where laws are needed to keep them in check. In today’s world there are already safeguards against forcible proselytizing. Shouldn’t an idealistic model of religious freedom balanced slightly with restricted proselytism already be reached then? This does not appear to be the case for there is still a major contention as to where... ... middle of paper ... ...oting, these non-proselytizing religions will die out. As can be seen, there are many other implications one must consider with proselytism other than just the laws. In conclusion, proselytism is a very complex issue. It is entirely possible for laws to restrict it be aligned with upholding basic religious freedom, however in reality this seems much too difficult for there is always bias and discrimination to undermine the noble purposes of religious freedom. Works Cited [1] UN. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights [online]. Available: http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html#a18 [2] H. Steiner and P. Alston, International Human Rights in Context, Law, Politics, Morals. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008, pp. 569-623. [3] UN. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [online]. Available: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm#art18
“ It remains to be noted that none of the great constitutional rights of conscience, however vital to a free society is absolute in character. Thus, while the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion goes a long way, it does not serve to protect acts judged to be morally licentious, such as poly amorous marriages. Children cannot be required to execute the flag salute which is forbidden by religious belief… Similarly freedom of speech, often defended by the courts, does not extend to the seditious utteran...
Hitchens mentions how the “free exercise”(1) of religion is a problem because it allows people to practice all kinds of rituals and implement all kinds of law in the name of religion. He also highlights the fact th...
The Heaven’s Gate religious group is one group in particular that has aroused much controversy in terms of the extent of religious freedom. In 1997, members of this group partook in an infamous mass suicide, claiming thirty-nine lives. There has been an extensive debate as to whether or not the government should have intervened in this group’s practice due to the violence and danger that it obviously posed to its members. However, through the acknowledgment of personal prejudices, an evaluation of coercion, the breadth of violence, legalities, and ethics revolving around this group’s violence, it can be concluded that government involvement in the religious practice of Heaven’s Gate would have been an inappropriate limitation of religious freedom. It would have been legally and morally unjust for the government to prevent the believers of Heaven’s Gate from making independent decisions.
punishment of vice, and the exclusion of religious intolerance. But in order for a religion to be
The Amendment I of the Bill of Rights is often called “the freedom of speech.” It provides a multitude of freedoms: of religion, of speech, of the press, to peacefully assemble, to petition the government. Religious freedom is vitally important to this day because it eliminates the problem of religious conflicts. Historically, many people died for their beliefs because their government only allowed and permitted one religion. T...
As James Madison, the fourth President of the United States said, “The religion of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man, and it is right of every man to exercise it as they may dictate” (Haynes, C...
Throughout history, America has faced disagreements that led to various complications, one of them being religious freedom. Americans claimed to have always supported religious freedom and that the First Amendment backed that up. However, according to David Sehat, this was only a myth. The myth he argued that there was a moral establishment that constrained religious liberty, therefore American religious freedom was only a myth. Sehat overstated this claim because there have been many historic measures that have shown American religious liberty, such as the Second Great Awakening, the emergence of new religious movements, and religious liberty court cases.
In an allegedly postmodern world, when looking at tolerance for ideologies other than our own is said to be the only absolute and controlling ideology. Inasmuch, as its doctrine of “sin” suggests that all humans are inherently flawed; Christianity is often viewed as judgmental and intolerant of others. Granted the approach of a certain Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas pushes the extreme that makes all Christians cringe in this area. Christians should not be embarrassed of the doctrine of sin today. Moreover, Christianity should not try to soften what it says about the human condition to be more readily acceptable to a broader world. This world needs help, guidance, and rules if we are to succeed as a human race.
The first school of thought, Positive Toleration, was championed by Roger Williams. His philosophy is centered on the idea that the government has a duty to create an environment where religion is not inhibited by the government. Williams argued that the church needed t...
s ban as a threat to their practice of evangelizing those of other religions in
2. The statute must not advance nor inhibit religious practice (also known as the Effect Prong)
Religious censorship happens in countries where the government is close to a religion or where religious feeling run high. Individual rights are written in the Bill of Rights section of the Constitution.
On December 10th 1948, the General Assembly adopted a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration, although not legally binding, created “a common standard of achievement for all people and all nations.to promote respect for those rights and freedoms” (Goodhart, 379). However, many cultures assert that the human rights policies outlined in the declaration undermine cultural beliefs and practices. This assertion makes the search for universal human rights very difficult to achieve. I would like to focus on articles 3, 14 and 25 to address how these articles could be modified to incorporate cultural differences, without completely undermining the search for human rights practices.
When someone mentions religion, words such as God, church, and purity most commonly come to mind. One must ask just how far religion affects the purity of its adherents. To put it in sociological terms, how far does religion go in reducing and eradicating deviance in those who practice? Sociologist William Sims Bainbridge, who is well-known for his work in the sociology of religion, has researched this theory in his essay “The Religious Ecology of Deviance” published by the American Sociological Association.
However, the first amendment prevents most talk of religion in public schools because of the separation of church and state. Religion should be strictly taught as a role in the history, culture, literary, and social development of the World. For example, The Bible ma...