Principle of religious freedom: basic normative elements

Religious Freedom and Economic Prosperity

The basic notion that an individual’s freedom to choose will advance society at large is a cornerstone of political philosophy and of the economic theory of the Western world. Early political philosophers such as John Stuart Mill and legendary economists such as Adam Smith have advocated a utilitarian approach to political and economic life, in which the advancement of one’s own interests also ...

Beyond Tolerance: Globalization, Freedom, and Religious Pluralism

If “Globalization” is to mean something other than imposing a single set of uniform, unexamined, and unchallengeable ideas on the entire human race, we must find ways to incorporate concepts of difference, freedom, and religious pluralism. If we are to build a truly human and humane global community, we must rethink (i) human nature (especially as regards the age-old search for spiritual values...

For Religious Coexistence in Peace and Freedom

The Swiss Council of Religions decisively rejects the Minaret Initiative. The Council, which consists of leaders from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities, is dedicated to protecting religious peace in Switzerland and to strengthening trust among the churches and religious communities. The Minaret Initiative would bring about just the opposite. It instrumentalizes religion for politica...

The Basic Principle of Airyscanning

Basic Religious Beliefs and Personality Traits

OBJECTIVE Spiritual beliefs can help people find meaning of life, and can also influence their feelings, behaviors and mental health. The present research studied the relationship between basic religious beliefs (Human, Existence and God) and five personality factors: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness. METHOD One hundred seventy eight students of Islamic Az...