Freedom of Religion

Today, by freedom of religion we mean more or less the following: the principle that every individual has the right to believe in any religion she wants, including the right not to believe in any, and consequently the right to profess her belief or unbelief without being persecuted, discriminated against, or penalised in any way by the government. For most of us, this principle is not simply a cornerstone of our democracy, but also an essential component of our identity. In a sense, the right to freely choose what to believe without being persecuted for our choice is almost a sacred commandment that we all honour --and expect each other to honor-- in our secular, modern, and tolerant society.