People commonly claim that yes they can, but can they really?
Religion is not just saying prayer, atleast not for many, for them it is a way of life, they want freedom to practice and express their beliefs, even if these beliefs are offending to others.
Like in France, muslims consider banning of headscarf an infringement on their religious liberty. In case of christians preaching that homosexuality is sin and perversion, may be taken as offensive by gays and lesbians.
Your thoughts?
Re: Can Yo Have Freedom of Religion and Secualrism Together?
It would be helpful if religious people looked up the definition of secularism before they started to create a conflict between them practicing their religion and secularism. The whole point of secularism is so that you, but not only you, could practice your religion freely. It’s actually religious people who want the freedom to practice their own particular religion but don’t want to afford the same courtesy to others. Hence the need for secularism.
Funny that you mention being offended by someone’s religious beliefs. The concept that you can offend someone (even if it relates to religion) and not get killed is possible only in secular societies. In religious societies, you don’t live to tell about it.
If France does something idiotic, it doesn’t implicate secularism but rather a lack, or an imperfect application, of it. Notice also that Christians are not persecuted for preaching against homosexuality as long as they don’t physically attack homosexuals.
Re: Can Yo Have Freedom of Religion and Secualrism Together?
Okay Chacha but I didn’t understand iconoclast’s question to be just that.
When every and any religion is allowed to practice their beliefs -within preset imitations and criteria - so that the foundations of society can function free from said religions, then naturally you don’t have 100 percent freedom of religion. Complete freedom of religion would translate that the school, courts, medicine are all synched with your religious foundations. That’s how I understood the question.
Re: Can Yo Have Freedom of Religion and Secualrism Together?
depends on the religions, and the nature of the people.
Re: Can Yo Have Freedom of Religion and Secualrism Together?
Europe and even UK has a chrisitian heritage with either state churches or history. If you want good examples of secularism, then look at US / Canada or even UK to some extent.