Frederick P.

Edwards
Ms. Beith History Class
5.1.2017

Does Religious Freedom

Exist?
No, religious freedom does not exist. To start, our entire society is built around multiple beliefs
and the Western World is mainly Christian while the rest is filled with other religions as well. All
of these religions have very specific and heavy views on the concept of an afterlife for people
who have done morally grey or bad things, have committed acts of violence, have failed to
follow very specific guidelines, etc. The concept that there is religious freedom is not true on
many levels.

Well begin with Christianity, Catholicism, and the other branches following in the teachings of
Christ or this domination. In this religion (along with many others) the concept of hell is very
present and has multiple origins and perceptions of this place. Ifyourhandcausesyouto
stumble,cutitoff.Itisbetterforyoutoenterlifemaimedthanwithtwohandstogointo
hell,wherethefirenevergoesout.This verse doesnt initially claim that if dont praise the
lord, that you will burn. But all those who sin, are to be casted in the fires of hell.

"Formanydeceiversareenteredintotheworld,whoconfessnotthatJesusChristiscome
intheflesh.Thisisadeceiverandanantichrist."--2John7This verse also questions non
believers and says they are to be casted into hell. Now, if you dont believe in the religion,
naturally, you wouldnt care about this nor feel fear. But for those burn into Christian
households, this reigns supreme. Sin can send you into the fires of hell. Thats how this religion
keeps and holds believers. Hell isnt just scary, its a twisted, disturbing world where dying is the
last thing on your list. Thats why for a child or teen it is terrible, it can even scare adults.

Thats why people want to believe so they can enter heaven and escape the concept of hell. This
is why and how the religion affects people within Western Society. Now, one could say that
religion is a free concept and anyone can worship who they wish but this isnt true. Legally,
without being prosecuted by the state, you can. Though, this religion (along with many others)
doesnt allow these concepts and others might enforce their own ideals or warn people so they
can escape. This is why some of these religions gain so many followers but it sounds almost
promising to another individual and seeks to drag people in.

How do I know that this religion is dominant in the West though? Well, according to a study in
2010, 33.39% of the global population are Christian. Christianity also found its roots in Western
Europe (along with the Eastern Slavs). As the population steadily grows and time passes, its
evident that there will only be an ever growing amount of Christians in society. Especially
Western Society.

Well, how about the East? Islam and its Quran talks about these concepts as well. Muslims have
this idea on doing the exact same thing to believers and tells about what happens to them.
Quran(22:19-21)-Butasforthosewhodisbelieve,garmentsoffirewillbecutoutfor
them;boilingfluidwillbepoureddownontheirheads;Wherebythatwhichisintheir
bellies,andtheirskinstoo,willbemelted;AndforthemarehookedrodsofironThis
religion goes into more graphic detail on what happens to non believers when they die. It also
has a personal grudge against them.

Quran(8:12)-"Iwillcastterrorintotheheartsofthosewhodisbelieve.Thereforestrikeoff
theirheadsandstrikeoffeveryfingertipofthem"Again, we see another religion strive to
perfect the disbelievers or purge them. There is no freedom or tolerance just an endless, brutal
death for those who cannot submit to the domination presented. One could say that this would be
natural in Christianity and Islam but you have to understand that both religions do not tolerate
any non-believers, technically in both, non-believers are supposed to be quashed and made to
suffer. This develops radical groups within both religions that strive for a sort of Holy War
between the two. Which has happened before.

Now, that we understand that religions like these have a one sided view and have remained the
dominant number within society, what about the State level. The United States Constitution
prevents the religious majority taking action against the religious minority and establishing a
statewide religion. "IcontemplatewithsovereignreverencethatactofthewholeAmerican
peoplewhichdeclaredthattheirlegislatureshould'makenolawrespectingan
establishmentofreligion,orprohibitingthefreeexercisethereof,'thusbuildingawallof
separationbetweenChurch&State."[1]Though, the problem here is the fact that the minority
might be protected, it doesnt mean that they are cared for and that everyone follows the law,
even the ones being protected.

The 9/11 Terror Attack was and still is controversial to this day and displays the hatred of
Muslim extremists have for Christians, stemming from a long line of hatred for eachother.
During this attack, hundreds of people died, inflicted short/long-term economic damage on
society, and psychologically grappled the very thoughts of the victims in that area. What does
this have to do with religious freedom? Afterwards, many muslims were starting to launch
multiple attacks on Christians in specific. This then grew into an argument between the
American peoples on Muslims within the country leading to whether these Muslims should be
allowed within the country. This lead to a ban on Muslims from countries from notable terrorist
threats. ImestablishednewvettingmeasurestokeepradicalIslamicterroristsoutofthe
UnitedStatesofAmerica.Wedontwantthemhere.Wewanttoensurethatwearenot
admittingintoourcountrytheverythreatsoutsoldiersarefightingoverseas.

Religious Freedom is hard to accept into the government because that requires that it either has
to protect all majorities and minorities or not at all. It is simply a fact that there is not Religious
Freedom in Western countries anymore. A Pew survey of 10 European countries in 2016 found
majorities in five countries had an unfavourable view of Muslims living in their country. Of
those, 72 per cent of Hungarians had a negative view of Muslims, followed by 69 per cent of
Italians, 66 per cent of Poles, 65 per cent of Greeks and 50 per cent of Spaniards. In the UK, only
28 per cent said they had an unfavourable view of Muslims, while in Germany and France 29 per
cent said the same.

With this ban on Muslim countries and Muslims in general. This reveals how people do not want
this religious freedom in their countries(, rightfully). Religious Freedom simply cannot exist.
Religious texts and Cultural dogma run deep in homes and further, society. Whether or not
you agree that muslims should be banned from Western countries, whether nations should take in
refugees, etc. Nations have developed a defense mechanism against countries with radicals who
follow extreme religious texts, which means that Religious Freedom is NOT achievable. So,
does Religious Freedom exist in the world. No. It doesnt.
 References

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02, 2017, from http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/quran/noble/sura22.html#19

Chappell, B. (2015, April 02). World's Muslim Population Will Surpass Christians This Century, Pew

Says. Retrieved May 03, 2017, from

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/04/02/397042004/muslim-population-will-surpass-c

hristians-this-century-pew-says

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https://www.ft.com/content/379ef670-e545-11e6-893c-082c54a7f539

The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments translated out of the original tongues and with

the former translations diligently compared & revised. (1986). New York: American Bible

Society.
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2017, from

http://www.pewglobal.org/2016/07/11/negative-views-of-minorities-refugees-common-in-eu/

Mitchell, T. (2016, July 11). 2. Negative views of minorities, refugees common in EU. Retrieved May 02,

2017, from

http://www.pewglobal.org/2016/07/11/negative-views-of-minorities-refugees-common-in-eu/

Rafai, J. B. (n.d.). Quran. Ta-Ha Publrs.

Separation of church and state in the United States. (2017, April 26). Retrieved May 02, 2017, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state_in_the_United_States#cite_note-1