Governance of Faith
Liberal Democracy: Freedom of Religion or Freedom from Religion?
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Vijay Mascarenhas
I argue for two highly controversial points: liberal democracies need not and should not grant special religious freedom in addition to the regular freedoms that must be granted to all citizens, and, sincere commitment to an eschatological religion (Christianity, Islam) is incompatible with liberal democracy. On the first point, I show that Kant’s conception of enlightenment as humanity’s emergence from Unmündigkeit to self-legislating autonomy grounds liberal democracy and that arguments for special treatment of religious expression surreptitiously rely upon treating religion as a type of ethnicity that crystalizes belief into dogma unamenable to rational reflection. Special reservations for the religious thus treat them as unmündige adults. Moreover, any freedom granted to the religious (e.g, use of peyote) should be granted to all if it does not conflict with the liberties of others; where it does, no religious nor irreligious person should that freedom (e.g., discrimination). On the second point, I built upon Mill’s observation that religious freedom never flourishes except where “religious indifference,” prevails in society. No one sincerely committed to an eschatological religion, i.e., who sees salvation as the most important goal of life, can have the “religious indifference” necessary to honestly engage in a liberal democracy. This explains why no deeply religious society has or has ever had true freedom, including freedom of religion
Regulating Religious and Faith Based Organisations in Uganda: Fears and Dilemmas of Born Again Churches
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Alexander Paul Isiko
Since the announcement by the government of Uganda of its intention to enact a policy/law about regulating religions and Faith based organisations, there have been contrasting responses from those this policy intends to regulate. The traditional religious groups especially the Moslem community, Anglican Church of Uganda, the Roman Catholic Church and generally all those who subscribe to the Inter-religious council of Uganda have welcomed the State's proposal. On the other hand, the proposal has met both stiff and liberal minded resistance from both the born again churches and relatively newly founded religious faiths and groups. This is partly so due to the historical relationship between the State and Religious institutions which has been characterised by uncertainty at one time and flowering at another. This paper analyses this historical relationship, showing how this influences the reactions of Religious institutions to State's attempt to provide a regulatory framework over them. The paper uncovers power struggles between and among born again churches as a roadblock to state control.
The Rising Emphasis on Tolerance in the Middle East
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session C Donald Smedley
In the recently released 2018 Muslim document “The Washington Declaration,” the authors desire to offer a more robust version of religious freedom than has previously appeared by either a Muslim majority state actor or an influential civil society actor. Central to their position is that, all people, regardless of faith, are entitled to religious liberty. Building, at times, on previous documents, particularly the related, just fully released, 2016 “Marrakesh Declaration,” as well as medieval and contemporary works, the Washington Declaration attempts to offer an explanation of what this liberty entails. No one declaration can speak for all Islam, but the Washington Declaration serves as an excellent representative because of the breadth of its adherents, because of what it affirms, and because it gives context to an aspect of religious freedom being instituted in different states in the Middle East. In the UAE, as one example, a concerted and robust effort is being made to highlight the value of tolerance through policy change and cultural events to emphasize its significance not only within the Emirates but within Islam. Tolerance is one aspect of religious freedom with important consequences and implications. This paper examines the movement and its potential impact on Muslim majority countries, particularly the UAE, and on the specific concept of religious liberty.
