Why Religious Freedom Matters: Human Rights and Human Flourishing

The right to freely practice one’s religion is among the strongest predictors of societal peace and success, according to this lucid study from political scientist Hertzke (Religion and Politics in America). He marshals evidence that countries with fewer religious restrictions experience the most substantial economic growth, enjoy greater social cohesion, and experience lower incidences of violence and terrorism. In Hertzke’s view, this is because religious freedom taps into the core of “human personhood and experience: the right to be who we are, to act on our ultimate commitment, and to be treated with equal worth and dignity.” He also contends that freedom of religion promotes agency and social value, empowers marginalized communities, attracts the immigration of skilled workers, and promotes social cooperation, among other benefits. (Societies that privilege majority faiths, on the other hand, incite repression as governments distort religious principles to secure power.) Hertzke calls for the adoption of a “covenantal pluralism” that trades passive religious tolerance for respectful relationships between faith groups who actively recognize one another’s faith differences. Hertzke’s zeal for his thesis is energizing, and his analysis of religious freedom as a core element of democracy is illuminating. Readers will be persuaded. (Apr.)