religious freedom
Worship without persecution
Religious freedom is the right to practice, change, or abstain from religion without government interference.
It encompasses belief, worship, and religious expression.
In American discourse, religious freedom often appears in debates over whether religious convictions exempt individuals or institutions from laws they find objectionable: The bakery claimed religious freedom in refusing to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- human rightsInalienable personal freedoms
- civil libertiesRights limiting government power
- First AmendmentConstitutional free expression guarantee
- separation of church and stateConstitutional religious neutrality principle
free exercise · non-establishment · legal protection · conscientious objection · autonomy · self-determination · dissent · secularism
Movement toward religious unity
- interfaithAcross religious boundaries
- coexistenceSimultaneous presence together
- diversityState of varied elements
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
syncretism · tolerance · dialogue · inclusivism · universalism · nonsectarian · interreligious · respect
Religious reverence and praise
- prayerAddress to deity
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
sermon · preaching · observance · pilgrimage · fasting · dietary laws · holy days · sabbath
Trust without proof
- creedStatement of belief
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- theologyStudy of the divine
- spiritualityConnection to the sacred
worship · devotion · piety · orthodoxy · heresy · blasphemy · apostasy · monotheism
Suffering for conviction
- inquisitionSustained, probing investigation
- pogromViolent persecution of minorities
- genocideSystematic annihilation of a people
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
discrimination · intolerance · excommunication · blasphemy laws · witch-hunt · ghettoization · ethnic cleansing · forced conversion
constitution
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- human rightsInalienable personal freedoms
- civil libertiesRights limiting government power
- First AmendmentConstitutional free expression guarantee
separation of church and state · free exercise · non-establishment · legal protection · conscientious objection · autonomy · self-determination · dissent · secularism · democracy
ecumenism
Movement toward religious unity
- interfaithAcross religious boundaries
- coexistenceSimultaneous presence together
- diversityState of varied elements
multiculturalism · syncretism · tolerance · dialogue · inclusivism · universalism · nonsectarian · interreligious · respect · harmony
worship
Religious reverence and praise
sacrament · sermon · preaching · observance · pilgrimage · fasting · dietary laws · holy days · sabbath · vestments
faith
Trust without proof
spirituality · worship · devotion · piety · orthodoxy · heresy · blasphemy · apostasy · monotheism · polytheism
martyrdom
Suffering for conviction
- inquisitionSustained, probing investigation
- pogromViolent persecution of minorities
- genocideSystematic annihilation of a people
oppression · discrimination · intolerance · excommunication · blasphemy laws · witch-hunt · ghettoization · ethnic cleansing · forced conversion · refugee
- Tribal Rightstribal governance, tribal sovereignty, tribal membership, tribal courts, tribal police
- native spiritualitymedicine man, sacred ceremonies, native rituals, vision quest, sweat lodge
religious freedomstate religion
Government-backed official faith
theocracy · forced conversion · religious persecution · religious intolerance · established church
religious freedomreligious persecution
Harming others for faith
religious intolerance · religious discrimination · pogroms · inquisition · sectarian violence
freedom, religion, freeing, religious, freedoms, religions, nonreligious, irreligion, irreligious