Religious Freedom, Tolerance, And Intolerance
Religious Freedom and Tolerance
The concepts of religious freedom and tolerance – allowing individuals to believe in, practice, and promote their religion of choice without repercussions – are legitimate and worthwhile.However certain organizations (e.g. the Unification Church and the Church of Scientology) have tried to use these concepts in their efforts to
- prevent or attack critical evaluations of their teachings and practices, and
- militate against efforts to establish guidelines or laws governing such issues as unethical recruitment tactics, fraudulent fund raising, and other unlawful acts.
Definitions
In evaluating claims of “persecution” and “intolerance,” it is helpful to keep the following definitions in mind:- Religious FreedomThe freedom of individuals to believe in, practice, and promote the religion of choice without (government) interference, harrassment, or other repercussions – as long as practices based on, or resulting from, those beliefs do not break the law (e.g. do not encourage or result in fraud, tax evasion, murder, terrorism, acts designed to undermine the government or the constitution, the use of unethical persuasion tactics, etcetera).
- Religious PersecutionThe practice of discouraging religious freedom and the freedom to express and/or promote all or certain religious beliefs – with repercussions ranging from discrimination and harassment to prevention and prosecution (by legal and/or illegal means). Does not cover legitimate legal measures designed to prevent and/or prosecute illegal practices such as fraud, tax evasion, murder, terrorism, acts designed to undermine the government or the constitution, the use of unethical persuasion tactics, etcetera.
- Religious Intolerancea) Refusing to acknowledge and support the right of individuals to have their own beliefs and related legitimate practices.
b) Also, the unwillingness to have one’s own beliefs and related practices critically evaluated.
The following do not constitute religious intolerance:
- Excercizing the right to challenge a religion’s claims (e.g. regarding alleged compatibility with, or superiority over, other religious beliefs)
- Condemning and disallowing illegal practices
- Rejecting a movement’s claim to be a ”religion” when there is sufficient evidence showing religion is used as a cover (e.g. the Church of Scientology).
- Religious ToleranceAcknowledging and supporting that individuals have the right and freedom to their own beliefs and related legitimate practices, without necessarily validating those beliefs or practices.
Anticult/Countercult Movements and Freedom of Religion
Cults and their defenders frequently charge that anticult- and countercult professionals are “anti-religion.” The facts, however, show otherwise.- Anticult organizations and individuals generally fight cults for reasons other than theological ones. Their prime concern is with the sociological (behavioral) aspects of cults.
- Countercult organizations and individuals for the most part have an evangelical, Christian background, and primarily oppose cults for religious/doctrinal reasons.
, while the latter do so using theological standards.
It should be noted that countercultists generally are more apt to also look at a movement’s sociological aspects, whereas non-Christian anticultists are – understandably – not as willing to include theological considerations.
But neither group is, as cultists claim, “anti-religious.”
Such baseless claims illustrate the revisionist tactics used by cults and their supporters. Under the guise of promoting “religious freedom,” they have often launched vigorous attacks against organizations and individuals associated with anticult- and countercult movements.
By trying to portray these organisations and individuals as “anti-religious” “hate groups” motivated by “intolerance” and led by “bigots”, cults and cult apologists alike are themselves actively promoting – and engaging in – misinformation, bigotry, hate speech, and intolerance. A prime example of this approach is Scientology’s so-called “Cult Awareness Network.”
Apologetics Index is part of, and supports, the countercult movement. It also supports the legitimate concerns and lawful actions of the anticult movement.
Apologetics and Religious Freedom/Tolerance
In the context of Christian theology, apologetics is the logical presentation and defense of a particular belief system. Thus, Christian apologetics is the intelligent presentation and defense of the historical Christian faith.The publisher and team members of Apologetics Index support the right to freedom of religion in thought and expression, but also the right and freedom to present relevant information about religions, movements, leaders, doctrines, and practices in order to help people make informed decisions about various belief systems and world views. In our case, that information is provided from an orthodox, evangelical Christian point of view.
Such information includes pointing out significant doctrinal differences between historical Christianity and, say, religions that claim to be compatible with it. In addition, we believe it is important that people know how to tell apart destructive cults and abusive sects from other religious movements. Too, we also address spiritual abuse and other issues within abusive churches.
Those who deny others the right to hold and express religious views that challenge the validity of competing and/or contradictory religious views, in so doing promote religious intolerance.
Supporting legitimate legal actions against unlawful practices (e.g. fraud, tax evasion, murder, terrorism, acts designed to undermine the government or the constitution, the use of unethical persuasion tactics, etcetera) does not constitute religious intolerance.
Religious Pluralism and Religious Diversity
We must also take a look at the concepts of religious pluralism and religious diversity:- Religious DiversityThe concept that society includes and allows for a plurality of religious beliefs, movements, and expressions.
- Religious PluralismThe theory that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate reality and/or truth – and that therefore more than one religion can be said to have the truth (way to God, salvation, etcetera).
[I]n today’s relativistic environment, pluralism no longer means tolerating competing ideas, but rather forced neutrality: no one should express any idea that could offend another.- Source: Charles Colson, The Ugly Side of Tolerance: How to be offensive without really trying, Christianity Today magazine, Mar. 6, 2000And Anglican theologian John Stott noted:
Pluralism is an affirmation of the validity of every religion, and the refusal to choose between them, and the rejection of world evangelism.We agree with Charles Colson when he concludes:
- Source: John Stott, Interview with Orange County Register
Postmodernism seeks to stifle truth claims with cultural pressure and speech codes. But, as legal scholar Russell Hittinger reminds us, these attempts are in reality a tacit acknowledgment by postmodernists that they can’t win in open debate.At the very least, the attempts by cults and their defenders redefine any of these concepts in such as way that their beliefs and actions can not be examined, evaluated, and countered, should be be challenged by Christians and non-Christians alike.
These attempts should only encourage us to press home our case lovingly, but vigorously.
- Source: Charles Colson, The Ugly Side of Tolerance: How to be offensive without really trying, Christianity Today magazine, Mar. 6, 2000
See Also
- America’s True History of Religious Tolerance
Kenneth C. Davis, Smithsonian magazine, October 2010 - The First Amendment and Freedom of Religion
This is a classroom teaching resource provided by the Southern Poverty Law Center — a (secular) human rights organization that tracks hate groups and their activities.The content focuses on the USA. Its arguments make use of the 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.
However, the material could easily be adapted to other nations as well. - Interfaith Activities and Interreligious Dialogue
Odds & Ends
- Charlotte Observer religion reporter Tim Funk was arrested Monday at the General Assembly in Raleigh while covering the Charlotte clergy involved in the legislative protests.Funk was among 60 people arrested — many of them members of the clergy in support of the “Moral Monday” movement that has led to more than 350 arrests since April 29 and brought thousands of demonstrators to Raleigh to voice their ire about cuts to Medicaid and unemployment benefits that affect more than half a million North Carolinians.
- The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has appointed Jane Jeffes as executive producer of Radio National’s religion unit, overseeing four programs: The Religion and Ethics Report, The Spirit of Things, Encounter and The Rhythm Divine, as well as The God Who Sings on Classic FM and Sunday Nights on ABC Local Radio.
- A tale of two Egyptian converts: Christians say conversion to Islam is widely promoted, whereas rare cases of Muslims turning to Christianity precipitate violence against entire communities.We think that if Islam wants to be considered a ‘religion of peace’ it will have to let go of its intolerance toward people who wish to make up their own mind regarding which religion to follow.
Know why God doesn’t want Baptists to dance? Ever watched a Baptist dance? #SBC13
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/2821-religious-freedom-tolerance-and-intolerance
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