Freedom of and Freedom from Religion

My responses to a Sydney Morning Herald article on churches lobbying for increased protection of freedom of religion.

Presumably these same churches will also support legislation entrenching the freedom from religion rights of those (whether non-mainstream religious and non religious)who feel coerced, ridiculed and abused by politically influential religious organisations.

This comment is not intended to be a snide cheap-shot at the religious establishment but rather a reminder of an often overlooked but firmly entrenched principle that freedom of religion includes freedom from religion. This principle has long been accepted and championed politically, in our common, statutory and constitutional law, and in international law.

The comments attributed to Professor Parkinson suggest that he is either very naive or overly partisan.

One needs to look no further than the findings of recent Australian inquiries, statements made by some religious leaders during our debate of same sex marriage, and the poisonous effect of mixing religion and politics in the United States, to realise that the upholding of moral standards is not achieved by protecting religious institutions from secular intrusion.

Throughout the history of western nations, religious institutions have repeatedly been forced to adapt to evolving secular standards of human rights. Had this not been the case, women would have few if any rights, homosexuals, heretics and blasphemers would have short life expectancies, and children would continue to be physically and sexually abused in religious institutions.

Religion has been the motivation for some of the finest human achievements, but when left unchecked, it has also been responsible for many of the most shameful aspects of human existence.

If any additional protection is deemed necessary, it must protect both freedom of religion and freedom from religion.