Freedom of religion is a vital component in any society that values human rights. Religious freedom gives people the right to worship, the right not to profess any particular belief system, and enables them to have religious organizations independently from government control.
Such freedoms are indivisible from other human rights that protect individual dignity and autonomy, including the right to life and equality, and the right to be free from discrimination. This article will share why freedom of religion is important for our society.
15 Benefits of Freedom Of Religion In Our Society
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which came into force in 1976, sets out these rights. The ICCPR is binding on all states that have ratified it; 148 countries are parties to the treaty. While the UN General Assembly has proclaimed 1981 as the International Year of Religious Freedom, it has also declared every March 26 as Universal Declaration of Human Rights Day since 1950.
Luckily we currently live in a society where we can freely practice religion! Let’s take a look at 15 reasons why freedom of religion is important:
1. Freedom Of Religion Brings Us Health Care
Who should you turn to when you need excellent health care? Well, who better to ask than someone who has tried every option available. If there’s a chance that prayer will help you get well quicker, then why not give it a try.
2. Freedom Of Religion Let’s Us Enjoy Religious Holidays
You deserve to have the time off work when Christmas is coming up. Sure, you could go in during Christmas Eve and do your job but why should you be punished for another person’s religious beliefs? Not all Christians celebrate Christmas, so we need to respect other religious holidays as well.
3. Freedom Of Religion Let’s Us Pray Howsoever We Want
Every religion has traditions that they believe are important. They need to be followed for their prayers to be answered. If you’re a Catholic and someone tries to tell you how to pray, then that’s taking your rights away from you. You can’t force somebody into your religion or try and convert somebody who doesn’t want it!
4. Freedom Of Religion Gives Us A Chance To Explore Ourselves
It lets us learn about other religions and allows us to write our own beliefs without fear of persecution. There are so many different rules and traditions surrounding each religion, we can never truly understand them if we don’t take the time out of our day-to-day life to investigate what they mean.
Related Video – History of Religious Freedom
5. Freedom Of Religion Let’s Us Enjoy Different Spiritual Festivals
Every religion has its specific celebrations that are unique to them. These are times people will feel closer to their religious beliefs and forge stronger connections with people who share the same views.
6. Freedom Of Religion Lets Us Be Who We Want To Be
If you have a strong belief in something, it’s nobody’s business but your own. You can’t be persecuted for being yourself or believing what you want! It seems like pretty basic stuff now but there was a time when this wasn’t the case.
According to research, 60% agree that religion is a fundamental part of who I am and should be protected.
7. Freedom Of Religion Realizes Everybody Is Equal
When somebody comes into power they tend to look down upon those that are different from themselves, whether that difference is physical or spiritual! Thankfully though, most people in this world are accepting of people’s differences.
8. Freedom Of Religion Is Important Because Nobody Knows The Answers
Nobody knows the real truth when it comes to religion! We can’t prove or disprove anything because there simply isn’t enough physical evidence to back up either argument. It’s down to personal beliefs and whether you believe something could exist without proof.
9. Freedom Of Religion Gives Us The Chance To Discover New Things
When it comes to religion, there are so many different aspects that haven’t been discovered yet! We know so much about our religion but what about other religions? It’s an ongoing process where we learn something new every day.
10. Freedom Of Religion Promotes Peaceful Conversations
If we all had different religions, the world would be a very noisy place! However, promoting freedom of religion allows for peaceful conversations between people who have different beliefs. Nobody is right or wrong, it’s just an opinion!
11. Freedom Of Religion Encourages Tolerance
If we’re all tolerant towards each other’s religious beliefs, the world will be a much more peaceful place to live in. We can learn a lot from each other and perhaps even come to a better understanding of what we believe in.
12. Freedom Of Religion Allows For Diversity
When it comes to religion, there are no wrong answers! This means that everybody can have their own unique set of beliefs and nobody should be judged by them. It’s important to accept people for who they are rather than what they believe.
13. Freedom Of Religion Is Important Because Everybody Is Different
We all come into this world with different personalities, dispositions, viewpoints, and spirits! We must respect that instead of ridiculing somebody because their beliefs don’t match our own. Nobody is wrong for believing in something – it just makes us human!
14. Freedom Of Religion Gives Us A Chance To Ask Questions
When you think about religion, there are so many unanswered questions! Why are we here? Where do we go when we die? God exists, why does he let bad things happen? Nobody knows the answers to these questions but everybody has their own opinion.
15. Freedom Of Religion Is Important Because It Offers An Outlet
If we don’t have freedom of religion, people can become very depressed or anxious about what they believe in! We all need an outlet and religion is a great way for us to let go of our emotions and express ourselves. Everyone needs something to believe in and this is it!
The Importance Of Freedom Of Religion – Conclusion
Why freedom of religion is important? To summarize, it’s important because whether somebody has a different belief from you or not doesn’t change who they are as a person. To preserve our beliefs and lifestyles, we must respect those who have their views about the world around us. We can’t all be correct but that doesn’t mean somebody is right and somebody is wrong, everybody just has their own opinion!
It’s also essential to promote diversity in our society so that everybody feels equal no matter what religious beliefs they hold. Finally, having a choice over your religion means you don’t have to live by anybody else’s rules.
Freedom of religion is important because it gives us the chance to discover new things, promotes peace between people with different beliefs, allows for open-mindedness towards new religions and cultures, and gives people the opportunity to find their spiritual path in life. With all of these reasons, now you must have understood why freedom of religion is important.
References
- https://www.religiousfreedominstitute.org/blog/what-in-the-world-is-religious-freedom
- https://www.usip.org/publications/2020/11/three-things-you-thought-you-knew-about-freedom-religion-or-belief
- https://www.heritage.org/what-you-need-know-about-religious-freedom/what-you-need-know-about-religious-freedom