Religious freedom is widely presented as an unquestionable freedom, the ‘first freedom’ on which others depend. Both the USA and the EU are becoming increasingly active in campaigning for religious freedom across the world, and the cause unites both political right and left. Linda Woodhead argues that there are serious problems with this approach.
Europe is sleep-walking into a situation in which it makes religion a regulation-free zone. The most intolerant forms of religion are the ones who take advantage. Against the idea of a strict separation between state and religion, Woodhead argues that the state has a legitimate interest in religion, and that needs to deal with religion and belief in a more intelligent and involved way.
Linda Woodhead, Professor in the Sociology of Religion at Lancaster University, is one of the world’s leading experts on religion.
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nFFeRtjpnA
Read the report (in Dutch): http://www.ru.nl/radboudreflects/terugblik/terugblik-2015/terugblik-2015/woodhead/info/verslag-wo-18-11-15-the-dangers-religious-freedom/
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Radboud Reflects Organizes in-depth lectures about philosophy, religion, ethics, society and culture. www.ru.nl/radboudreflects
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