The Four Freedoms | Freedom of Religion

The human quest to understand the meaning of life leads to deeply held convictions about how we should live. Freedom of religion and conscience allows individuals to live according to these convictions, whether religious or secular, without fear of punishment or deprivation. This fundamental freedom underpins other democratic freedoms, ensuring that people can believe and act according to their deepest values. Despite its importance, freedom of religion and conscience faces significant threats worldwide, with many countries imposing severe restrictions.
Even in liberal democracies, this freedom is increasingly under attack. Cases of professionals losing accreditation for their beliefs, religious groups being restricted, and laws prohibiting certain religious practices highlight the growing challenges. These assaults are often justified in the name of equity and inclusivity but ultimately undermine the foundational freedoms essential for a diverse and respectful society. Protecting freedom of religion and conscience is crucial for fostering a society where diverse ideas and worldviews can thrive, ensuring mutual respect and the preservation of other democratic freedoms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To dive deeper, check out the following readings:
Os Guinness - Last Call for Liberty: How America's Genius for Freedom Has Become its Greatest Threat (2018)
John Locke - Letter Concerning Toleration (1689) (oll.libertyfun...)
Ryan T. Anderson - Religious Liberty is Important, but it's not Enough (www.thepublicd...)
Robert P. George - Religious Liberty and the Human Good (www.nationalre...)
Further audio resources:
Roger Scruton - Freedom of Religion (ir.vanderbilt....)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Anderson is the former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, interviewing the world's foremost thought leaders about today's pressing social, cultural and political issues.
John believes proper, robust dialogue is necessary if we are to maintain our social strength and cohesion. As he puts it; "You cannot get good public policy out of a bad public debate."
If you value this content and want to see more like it, make sure you subscribe to the channel here: / @johnandersonmedia
And stay right up to date with all John Anderson Media by subscribing to the newsletter here: johnanderson.n...
Follow John on Twitter: / johnandersonac
Follow John on Facebook: / johnandersonac
Follow John on Instagram: / johnandersonac
Support the channel: johnanderson.n...
Website: johnanderson.n...
Podcast: johnanderson.n...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[@1258-Eckhart]

As a Roman Catholic catechist, may I just add that, at least for us, "freedom of conscience" is not "freedom to interpret my faith as I will", but "freedom to accept the teachings of Christ". "Freedom of Conscience" thus never gives a licence to promulgate a personal faith, it is always the confirmation and enacting of the divine will. For me, no author embodies this better than Thomas à Kempis, with his "De imitatione Christi".

[@edithboote1920]

Amazing again! Can't wait for more such content in this series 🙂

[@YtUser-c1c]

I have a feeling that the alphabet people, the climate people and the melanin blessed people have started 3 new religions to which all other religions, except the religion of peace, have to bow down to. It is scary to watch, and I pray that this trajectory can be changed. Love the series though. ❤️ from 🇳🇱

[@JohnWilliams-iw6oq]

As has happened before the rainbow people will one day find that those new found friends will very quickly turn into new found killers who throw them from roof tops.

[@carnakthemagnificent336]

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@shirleyjust3305]

As I look through history I see humanity has not changed, divide and conquer. The kingdom is within, that is were you will find your peace. So simple most people over look it. Be in the world but not of it.

[@metgirl5429]

Are we awake now🕊

[@RadwynAlthor]

Freedom from others religious demands is as important as freedom of religion Individual concience has never been respected properly only when you are member of a larger established religion do you get belief respected and that's wrong. .

[@thinkofwhy]

Democracies ensure the freedoms of the majority at the expense of the freedoms of the minority. Which is why some behaviors are not tolerated by a democracy. That's the point of a nation/culture, to protect the way of life of its people, not all peoples. The problem with today's democracies is that they've been captured and controlled by a special interest group (SIG), because centralized organizations are vulnerable in that way. And that SIG wants to maintain and strengthen their control, which requires them to further weaken those democracies in order to more easily install deeper and broader control mechanisms. And the best way to weaken a people is to locally divide them physically, economically, culturally, ...etc, increasing the socioeconomic incoherence and chaos to make the people more and more dependent on the centralized power (government) to whom they've given their powers. The local diversity that you seem to want is the very means by which the SIG further divides and weakens the people in order to better control them. The only solution is for the people to stop centralizing their powers into the hands of the few. But, because of the greater local diversity, the people as a whole can't think coherently and therefore the people can't act in unison to stop the SIG. Remember the part in Gladiator when Maximus instructs his fellow gladiators to "act as one" in order to prevent their demise? Yeah, that ain't happening anytime soon.

[@DonHavjuan]

Freedom FROM religion is far more under threat than yhe freedom of it.

[@mohamedali2858]

Criticism of Christianity versus criticism of Judaism, whichever brings trouble

[@jhljhl6964]

To critique Islam often means death.

[@NeraBuffy]

Stopping jihad is islamophobia 😂

[@robertholland7558]

Not freedom of religion, but freedom FROM religion! Where on earth do religious think they have the right to condemn those believing differently? This “condemnation “ needs to be punishable and punishable severely!

[@robertholland7558]

Such gaslighting. Religion, conscience and spirituality are different things! Not interchangeable.

[@paulezycom]

NahI here propane smell pig propaganda