Koppelman, Andrew --- "What kind of human right is religious liberty?" [2018] ELECD 791; in Ahdar, Rex (ed), "Research Handbook on Law and Religion" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018) 103

Book Title: Research Handbook on Law and Religion

Editor(s): Ahdar, Rex

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN: 9781788112468

Section: Chapter 6

Section Title: What kind of human right is religious liberty?

Author(s): Koppelman, Andrew

Number of pages: 21

Abstract/Description:

The idea of ‘religious liberty’ is increasingly criticized for arbitrarily privileging practices that happen to resemble Christianity and distorting the perception of real injuries. Both objections are sound. Religious liberty is nonetheless appropriately regarded as a right. The state cannot possibly recognize each individual’s unique identity-constituting attachments. It can, at best, protect broad classes of ends that many people share. ‘Religion’ is one of these.