Today’s Talking Points

• What is America’s Religious Freedom Day?

• What is Religious Freedom?

• Working Towards Greater Tolerance

Who am I?

• Protestant Christian• American• Graduated magna cum laude from George

Mason University with a dual-major Bachelor of Arts in History and Religious Studies

• I am not a policy or government expert, I am not an established religious leader or priest, nor am I an expert in Montenegrin society

• Have lived and traveled abroad extensively

Theology vs. Religious Studies• Theology is the study of religious truths within

the parameters of a religion• Religious studies is the study of religion as a

liberal art, “the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.”– Study/observation without ‘buy-in’– I majored in religious studies as a tool to better

understand history, the human condition, and the human experience

What is Religion?• This is a complex question with many possible answers; according to

Judge Adams of the US Third Circuit court:– A religion deals with issues of ultimate concern; with what makes life

worth living; with basic attitudes toward fundamental problems of human existence.

– A religion presents a comprehensive set of ideas--usually as "truth," not just theory.

– A religion generally has surface signs (such as clergy, observed holidays, and ritual) that can be analogized to well-recognized religions.

• Noted anthropologist Clifford Geertz defined religion as:– “A system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive,

and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.”

• Is either definition useful when considering “Religious Freedom?”

Pilgrims, the Forming of America, and Tolerance

• The first European settlers in America were were part of a religious minority who were suffering civil punishment, sometimes culminating in public execution for exercising their religious beliefs

• Instead of rising up in arms to change England’s religious landscape, they removed themselves from society and reformed their society in order to allow for universal religious freedom

What is Religious Freedom Day?

Every year, the President of the United States declares January 16th to be Religious Freedom Day, and calls upon Americans to "observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of worship." The day is the anniversary of the adoption, in 1786, of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and father of the University of Virginia.

Written in 1777, Enacted into Law in 1786

3rd President of the United States of America

First Amendment of the US Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free

exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people

peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

•Two parts: the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause

“Compulsion in religion is distinguished peculiarly from compulsion in every other thing. I may grow rich by art I am compelled to follow, I may recover health by medicines I am compelled to take against my own judgment, but I cannot be saved by a worship I disbelieve & abhor.”

“the opinions of men are not the object of civil government, nor under its jurisdiction; that to suffer the civil magistrate to intrude his powers into the field of opinion and to restrain the profession or propagation of principles on supposition of their ill tendency is a dangerous fallacy, which at once destroys all religious liberty”

-Thomas Jefferson

The Establishment Clause

“At an absolute minimum, the Establishment Clause was intended to prohibit the federal government from declaring and financially supporting a national religion, such as existed in many other countries at the time of the nation's founding. It is far less clear whether the Establishment Clause was also intended to prevent the federal government from supporting Christianity in general. ”

The Free Expression Clause

• It states that the government shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.

• Although the text is absolute, the courts place some limits on the exercise of religion. According to the interpretations of the Supreme Court, the freedom to believe is absolute, but the ability to act on those beliefs is not.

• “Congress cannot pass a law for the government of the Territory which shall prohibit the free exercise of religion…Laws are made for the government of actions, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious beliefs and opinions, they may with practices.” – From Reynolds vs. United States, 1878

Believing in the Great Green Sky

• As an example…suppose you founded a religion that believes that the sky is green. Your holy book states that the sky is green and admonishes you to help it to be so.

• You can put green stained glass in your house, walk under a translucent green umbrella, etc.

• But you can’t try and replace someone else’s windows or spew green chemicals into the air

• More seriously, if your religion allows polygamy (for example), you still cannot legally practice it in the US

The American Religious Landscape

2012 US Population: 313 million

2012 : 228 million

2012 : 18.8 million2012 : 61.35 million

2012 : 6.26 million

Approximate 2012 Values in Millions

An Example of Pluralism

• ~73% of Americans Christian• A large public university includes: 2 Muslim

student groups, 2 Jewish, 1 Coptic Orthodox, 1 Sikh, 1 Mormon, 1 Buddhist, 1 Lutheran, 16 non-denominational Protestant, 2 philosophical, and 1 Catholic student group.– 74% Christian groups…America’s statistical

diversity evidenced in a typical university

What is Religious Freedom?• ARTICLE 9 of the European Convention on Human

Rights– Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience

and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

– Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

The Non-Religious and Religious Freedom

• The beliefs of Atheists, Agnostics, and Skeptics are in many ways similar to a religion, save only for their lack of rite and clergy

• Societal discussions of religious freedom must include these groups of individuals

• These groups of individuals must be held to the same standards as religious persons

• Non-religion can be ‘pushed’ just as religion can, and it is just as intolerable

It Starts With You• “States are not moral agents, people are, and can

impose moral standards on powerful institutions.” – Noam Chomsky

• Religious freedom begins with the premise of religious tolerance

• An intolerant society is incapable of having true religious freedom, even if religious freedoms are written into its laws

• Societal tolerance is the sum of individual tolerances

• Tolerance does not require capitulation of deeply-held religious beliefs!

Importance of Tolerance• “If we don't believe in freedom of expression for

people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.”• Religious intolerance is an excuse or motivation

for the improper treatment of others• Religious differences often focused on in the

actions, not beliefs, of others– More true in societies where ethno-religious violence

is minimal• Behaviors often seen in decisions made when

raising children• Religious tolerance, and by extension, religious

freedom, are means to achieve an end – lives lived peaceably and without fear

Interfaith Dialogue• Communication between members of multiple

different faith groups• Its goal is understanding the other and finding

common ground; proselytizing is a byproduct, not the objective

• 2 levels:– First, focus on common ground

• “most of we time we are satisfied with mouthing a few noble, often-repeated sentiments”

– Second, explore differences• More contentious and difficult, but potentially more

rewarding– If you don't like what someone has to say, have a

constructive debate with them!

Who to Talk to

• Friends: may be the most comfortable at first, but challenging discussions can alienate them; their knowledge can be variable

• Scholars/Professors: usually possess a ‘detached’ viewpoint, find one whose specialty matches your interests

• Priests, Pastors, Imams, etc.: usually very knowledgeable about their religious tradition

• Remember your source’s perspective! What is their background, sect, training, etc.

How to Talk to Them• Friends– Be clear about what you want– Don’t casually bring up in social call (or expect proselytization)

– Outline questions/expectations clearly– Be polite and prepared to listen– Don’t try to tell them what their beliefs are

• Professionals– Do homework– Start/end time– Outline questions/expectations clearly– Be polite and prepared to listen– Don’t try to tell them what their beliefs are

Independent Research

• Above all, consider the source!• Diversify your sources of information• Ensure you research a webpage’s source, or a

book’s author and not just its content• Use Wikipedia or webpages without specific

authors only as a starting point

Resources• Notes on Religion (October 1776), published in The Works of

Thomas Jefferson in Twelve Volumes, Federal Edition, Paul Leicester Ford, ed., New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1904, Vol. 2.

• http://www.religiousfreedomday.com/• http://www.religiousfreedom.com/• http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/

estabinto.htm• http://gmu.collegiatelink.net/organizations• http://www.pewforum.org/• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-eric-h-yoffie/why-

interfaith-dialogue-d_b_867221.html• http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/09/197654.htm• http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/free_exercise_clause• http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/free-exercise-clause• http://www.hri.org/docs/ECHR50.html#C.Art9