freedom of religion
Freedom of Religion
There are so many cases of communal rights and persecution of religious minorities daily in spite of the fact that most democracies give their citizens the freedom to practice a religion of their choice. However, in reality, is freedom of religion a myth? Let's find out ...
- A state that provides people freedom of religion gives them the right to congregate and worship and establish places of worship and maintain them.
- Freedom of religion is not granted but is definitely protected by the state. There are not articulate laws but then there is something pertaining to the protection of these rights in every democracy.
- In most of the democracies religion and state form two separate bodies and their fundamental principles and ways of working are kept apart.
- In most of the democracies there are no separate offices and organizations that look after the religious affairs of the state though state does help communities to acquire places of worship and grants aids to maintain them. At times these places are exempted of tax.
- States also do not interfere with the content of the religious books used for education or sermons neither are people stopped from celebrating particular days that hold importance for them in their religion.
- There can be faith-based schools and they are also given the freedom to participate and contribute in the civil society. In some of the states there are religious institutions (other than state religion) that run old age houses and orphanages.
- Media, religious officials and government officials are also given the right to investigate and report religious reports.