Significance of Communal Religious Freedom

This blog will be on the idea and article The Significance of Communal Religious Freedom for Liberal Democracy. Michael Paulsen discusses his theory of "The Priority of God" and religious freedom in the International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society. He makes comparisons between US and European societies and how they perceive religious truths. In America, he talks about how we have a "modern conception of religious freedom, which no longer recognizes religious truths although the state remains tolerant". This implies that as Americans it is tough for us to see the meaning behind actions and the religious implications behind events that occur, but at the same time religion is still relevant in our society although it has diminished. When he discusses Europe, he says this problem has gotten much worse. He states "This conception does not only no longer recognize religious truth, but also implies a considerably less tolerant state, as secularism becomes the established religion." He believes there is no liberal truth and that many in European society have lost faith and have rejected religion as we evolve into a postmodern society. I struggled to understand this, but have come to the conclusion that Paulsen is right in the fact that Generation Z (my generation) seems to be much less religious than our parents were and this seems like the trend may be continuing.

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