Legal Definitions - religious liberty

Religious liberty is a fundamental right that protects an individual's freedom to believe in, practice, and express their religious faith (or to hold no religious beliefs) without undue interference from the government. It also ensures that the government cannot establish an official religion, favor one religion over others, or compel individuals to participate in religious practices against their will. This right allows people to follow their conscience in matters of faith, provided their practices do not infringe upon the rights and safety of others.

Here are some examples illustrating religious liberty:

• Example 1: Individual Religious Practice

  A university student from a particular faith requests a specific dietary accommodation in the dining hall, such as kosher or halal meals, to align with their religious dietary laws. The university, as a public or federally funded institution, generally provides these options.

  This illustrates religious liberty because the student is exercising their right to practice their religion through dietary choices. The university's accommodation respects this right by allowing the student to adhere to their religious beliefs without undue burden.

• Example 2: Freedom from Government Establishment of Religion

  A public school district decides to remove a large, permanent display of the Ten Commandments from the wall of its main administrative building after a complaint from a local resident.

  This demonstrates religious liberty by showing the government (in this case, a public school district) acting to avoid establishing or endorsing a particular religion. Displaying a specific religious text prominently in a government building could be seen as favoring one religion, which violates the principle of religious liberty that prevents government entanglement with religion.

• Example 3: Collective Religious Expression

  A small religious community seeks to purchase land and build a new house of worship in a residential area. The local zoning board must consider their application fairly, applying the same criteria as they would for any other community building, without discrimination based on the group's religious affiliation.

  This highlights religious liberty by showing the freedom of a group to collectively practice their faith by establishing a dedicated space for worship and community activities. The zoning board's obligation to treat their application without religious discrimination upholds the principle that religious groups have the right to organize and build their institutions.