Freedom and Religion

The core of freedom of religion is that individuals should be free to form their beliefs about religious matters (and other matters) against a wide, secure background regime of freedom of speech and expression and should be free to join together with like-minded others to worship and proselytize. Controversy about religion and freedom centers on the question whether religious freedom should receive special protection. One view is that religious freedom merits special accommodation. Another is that the state ought not to adopt policies that cannot be justified except by appeals to controversial religious claims, nor promote one type of religion or church over any other or over nonreligious beliefs, practices, and institutions; there should be no establishment of religion. This chapter suggests answers to both the accommodation issue and the establishment issue.