Religion & Law

Robby writes:

Across the country in recent months, from California, to Louisiana, to New York, anti-Muslim sentiment has become a prominent feature of opposition to new mosques.  At risk in this is religious freedom itself.  But not just religious freedom.  Also threatened is the respectful civility that enables constructive public discourse in religiously pluralistic democratic societies.  First, an attitude of "freedom for me but not for thee" rings the death knell for liberty itself.  Freedom of religion is a right of all human beings, including Muslims. People who oppose the building of mosques in their communities out of anti-Islamic animus are guilty of intolerance and a lack or respect for religious freedom.  Such hostility assaults the human dignity of both the hater annd the hated.

This is, as one would expect, compelling stuff.  I am reminded of the point that Thomas Farr (and others) have made often, namely, that religious freedom cannot be regarded by those who profess to care about political freedom and civic health as some kind of boutique or luxury item.  It is foundational.