CHRIMI News

In a democratic society, like the Philippines, the “freedom of religion” is guaranteed, and people have the choice what to believe and what not to believe.

As a result, our society have different variations of faith, compelling some sectors not to believe on anything. And in the middle of all of these, a new advocacy emerged, that is the “freedom from religion”.

There is a difference, though, between the two freedoms, the first freedom (of religion)– people have the freedom to express and explain what they thought is right. In the process, they may be able to convince others to join their belief or non belief. On the other freedom (from religion), people are regulated to express their faith publicly.

It appears to me though, that the second freedom (from religion) is no different from having a state religion– the restriction on the exercise and expression of faith other than what the state embraces.

Non belief on the existence of a supreme being is a religion in itself. And to restrict the expression of another belief because of ones dissenting belief is tantamount to enforcing a state religion.

The basic premise of a democratic society is our ability to express and reason out, likewise, giving opportunity for the listeners to exercise his freedom to choose. Without this two elements, there could be no democracy.