Religious Liberty and the Alleged Afterlife

It is common for religiously motivated actions to be specially protected by law. Many legal theorists have asked why: what makes religion special? What it worthy of toleration over and above other non-religious deeply held convictions? The answer I put forward that religions’ alleged afterlife consequences call a principle warrants special treatment. Under Rawlsian toleration, reasonable those in the original position opt principles justice accommodate with consequences. And, under utilitarian greater psychological harm eased such accommodations. Additionally, this consequence found most religions are thought warrant some level toleration—not only do Abrahamic consequences, but many eastern as well, e.g. reincarnation.