Freedom of Religion (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

What is religious freedom?

• Religious freedom, or freedom of religion, is the right to believe or practice whatever religion one chooses

• This is a right included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

• In the UK today, the official state religion is Christianity (The Church of England)

• The government protects freedom of religious expression 

  • This means people have the right to worship in whatever way they choose or not worship at all

  • Nobody can be forced into a faith or to join the church

  • No one should preach hatred or intolerance of anyone

• Historically, Britain has not always been as tolerant of religious freedom as it is today

  • Henry VIII wanted to break with the Catholic Church (for a divorce) and created the Church of England

    • Henry looted the Churches and killed Catholics who opposed him

  • Mary I changed the state religion back to Catholicism and killed objectors

  • Elizabeth I broke with Catholicism and fined anyone who failed to attend church, as well as persecuting people who supported the Pope

• There have been many further examples of conflict arising from intolerance of different religious beliefs, although there are often further complicating factors, such as politics

  • The conflict in Northern Ireland (now largely ended)

  • The persecution of Christians who are in the minority in parts of the Middle East

Christian teachings on freedom of religious expression

• Most Christians support freedom of religious expression

• Christian teachings encourage tolerance and harmony

• Jesus taught his followers to ‘love your neighbour’ and the Golden Rule, "Do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12)

• The Gospel of Mark records an episode where a man who was not a follower of Jesus was driving out demons in the name of Jesus

  • Jesus told his disciples not to stop the man, saying ‘Whoever is not against us is for us.’ (Mark 9:39-40)

• Jesus taught that there were many ways to worship God

• This is often interpreted to mean that there are many ways to worship God and enter heaven, which allows for religious freedom

• Whenever Jesus was not welcomed or his message was rejected (Luke 9:52-56), he simply moved on

• Jesus also made a point of associating with people whom others rejected, for example, the Samaritan woman (John 4:7-27)

  • Jews would not associate with Samaritans, which makes the praise Jesus gives the Samaritan who helped a person in need in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) so powerful

• When Christians fight among themselves or reject the rights of others they are not following Bible teachings

• Paul urged the Christians in Rome to ‘live at peace with everyone’ (Romans 12:18)  and to avoid people who cause divisions

• Religious freedom is encouraged as it is a part of God’s design and a fundamental human right

• Some Christians are less tolerant of other faiths because they believe that they belong to the ‘one true faith’, a belief held by the Roman Catholic Church and some Orthodox Churches

Muslim teachings on freedom of religious expression

• The Qur’an teaches that it is a choice to be a Muslim

• Following Islam is seen as the best way, but people should have a choice in the matter

• The Qur’an mentions ‘People of the Book’, which means Christians and Jews.

  • They are accepted because they follow revelations from God

  • They should not be discriminated against and are allowed to worship in some Muslim countries

• The interpretation of Islamic teaching on religious freedom varies from country to country

  • There is a range of views about freedom of religious expression, ranging from limited acceptance to total acceptance

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Islam and religious freedom

• In Britain, because there is religious freedom, Muslims are free to worship, build mosques, organise and run schools, and publicly express their religious belief

• In some Muslim countries, like Saudi Arabia, there is little religious freedom for other faiths and people who follow these may face discrimination

• In some Muslim countries, like Pakistan, blasphemy laws exist to make it illegal for Muslims to criticise the Qur’an or the Prophets

• In some Muslim countries today, changing religion or giving up belief in Islam is seen as a sin and considered a crime

  • Punishments can range from no action to execution

• There have been instances of Muslims having their religious freedom restricted

• Muslim women are taught to dress modestly 

  • In the UK they are allowed to wear a variety of clothes that demonstrate their faith 

  • In some places, this right is more restricted

    • In countries including France, Austria and the Netherlands, face covering such as the wearing of the burqa is banned

  • Some school uniform policies are not adjusted to allow students to adopt these traditional forms of Islamic dress