Religious freedom in a secular society

Abstract

Secularism in Europe tends to look for a society free from religion rather than free for it. The result is that as examples from recent jurisprudence in Europe, and the United Kingdom in particular, indicate, "equality", and the right not be discriminated against, too often simply trump claims to a right to freedom of religion. In addition, freedom of religion is too often truncated to mean freedom of worship. What is needed is a reasonable accommodation between the demands of competing rights, so that the needs of all can, if possible, be properly met.