RELIGIOUS FREEDOM –THE PATH TO PEACE
Part - 1
The
importance and the respect for the spiritual dimension
in human beings
The message on ‘Religious freedom, the path to peace’ by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI on 1, January 2011 on the World day of Peace.
The deepest and the central element
of a culture is religion and in every human being there is a craving for
something beyond the ordinary. It is this desire for the transcendent, the
desire to connect to the transcendent and to do it freely. This is the
religious freedom every true human being longs for, which unfortunately is
denied in so many ways in the world of today. While many have raised their
voices about it, here is a fatherly yet authoritative voice not from the
wilderness but from the Vatican crying out for the recognition of religious
freedom, thus bringing a ray of hope to the entire humanity.
The negation of Religious freedom
It is painful to think that in some areas of the world it is impossible
to profess one’s religion. If done so it is only at the risk of their lives. At
present, Christians are the religious group which suffers most from persecution
on account of its faith. Many Christians experience problems and often live in
fear because of their pursuit of truth, their faith in Jesus Christ, even worse
when they insist for religious freedom. This situation is unacceptable, since
it represents an insult to God and to human dignity. It is a threat to security
and peace, and an obstacle to the achievement of authentic and integral human
development. Though the pope directs his concern on Christians, he speaks for
all those who are in a way suppressed because of their faith.
Religious freedom, that is the space to respond to the transcendent
freely, expresses what is unique about the human person. It allows us to direct our personal and
social life to God, in whose light the identity, meaning and purpose of our life
are fully understood. To deny or restrict this freedom is to narrow down the
wholeness of human being.
Religious freedom – a Birthright:
Every one born in this world has the innate connection to the divine. He
cannot be a separate entity away from this spiritual realm. And so the right to
religious freedom is rooted in the very dignity of the human person. This
transcendent nature of man must not be ignored or overlooked. God created man
and woman in his own image and likeness (Gen 1:27). How great our creator is.
For this reason each person is gifted with the sacred right to a full life,
also from a spiritual standpoint. Full life here necessarily involves the
spiritual dimension of our life. Without the acknowledgement of man’s spiritual
being, he would fail to find answers to the heart’s deepest questions about
life’s meaning, the meaning of death, would fail to identify the lasting ethical
values and principles, and would fail even to experience authentic freedom to
build a just society, the kingdom of God.
We know, the transcendent dignity of the person is an essential value of
Judeo-Christian wisdom. Psalm 8, beautifully portrays this. “ When I look at the heavens, the work of your
fingers... what is man that you care for him...Yet you have made him little
less than God and crowned him with glory and honour.” The Pope says, this
dignity, the capacity to transcend one’s own materiality to seek truth, must be
acknowledged as a universal good.
Religious Freedom and Mutual Respect:
Once we recognize the innate divine nature that is in ourselves then
automatically we will also look at others as those who possess the same. This
gives full dignity to each individual and that will be the guarantee of full
mutual respect between persons. Freedom and respect are inseparable; indeed Dignitatis Humanae, the Declaration on
Religious Freedom, would say “in exercising their rights, individuals and social
groups are bound by the moral law to have regard for the rights of others,
their own duties to others and the common good of all”(7). A freedom which is
indifferent to God becomes self-negating and does not guarantee full respect
for others. Forgetfulness of our spiritual dimension hinders our true freedom
and leads to divisions and loss of respect for persons.
The role of Family in Creating Spiritual Awareness and
Brotherhood
The creation of spiritual freedom must start from the family. The schools
must nurture it with religious values and the parishes do the same with
catechism classes. If religious freedom is the path to peace, religious
education is the highway which leads the new generations to see others as their
brothers and sisters, with whom they are called to journey and work together.
Thus all will feel that they are living members of the one human family, from
which no one is to be excluded. The Pope, stressing the role of a family, which
is the first school for social, cultural, moral and spiritual formation- asks
the parents to pass on the spiritual dimension through their life of witness. Thus
young people will be prepared to assume their proper responsibilities in life,
in a free society, and in a spirit of understanding and peace. As religious
educators, formators, catechism teachers, let us ask ourselves how well have we
been doing this.
Responsibility of Civil Society.
Next to family, society has the important role of transmitting the
spiritual dimension. Giving the special status to religious freedom among the
fundamental rights, the Pope affirms the great responsibility of civil society
and its leaders. Only when religious freedom is acknowledged, the culture and
tradition of peoples are strengthened.
On the other hand, whenever religious freedom is denied by civil society,
and attempts are made to hinder people from professing their religion or faith,
and living accordingly, human dignity is offended, with the resulting threat to
justice and peace.
The Meaning of True Religious Freedom
The Pope writes, “Religious freedom is an essential good. Each person
must be able freely to exercise the right to profess and manifest, individually
or in community, his or her own religion or faith, in public and in private, in
teaching, in practice, in publications, in worship and in ritual observances.
There should be no obstacles should he or she eventually wish to belong to
another religion or profess none at all.” Writing thus Pope Benedict XVI has
opened wide the windows that were opened by Blessed John XXIII. Further he
continues as he put it right in his encyclical “Caritas In Veritate,” religious freedom is not the exclusive
patrimony of believers, but of the whole family of the earth’s peoples.
The Public Dimension of Religion: Social and Ethical
The first and the most obvious contribution is social. If the society has
to take care of religious freedom, what does a society get back in return? We
know that religious freedom, like every freedom, proceeds from man and is
achieved in relationship with others. Freedom without relationship is not full
freedom and this relationship is a very important factor in religious freedom,
which leads one to practice solidarity for the common good. In this way the
contribution of religious communities to society is undeniable. Numerous
charitable and cultural institutions testify to the constructive role played by
believers in the life of society.
However the more important aspect is religion’s ethical contribution.
Religion should not be marginalized or prohibited, but seen as making an
effective contribution to the promotion of the common good. “In this context mention should be made of
the religious dimension of culture, built up over centuries. Thanks to the
social and especially ethical contributions of religion. This dimension is in
no way discriminatory towards those who do not share its beliefs, but instead
reinforces social cohesion, integration and solidarity.” Here he also
upholds the non-believers’ service for common good.
“No” to Fanaticism in the Name of Religion
Quoting Dignitatis Humanae, the
Pope regrets the playing of dirty politics using religions. “Fanaticism, fundamentalism and practices
contrary to human dignity can never be justified, even less so in the name of
religion. The profession of a religion cannot be exploited or imposed by force.
States and the various human communities must never forget that religious
freedom is the condition for the pursuit of truth and truth does not impose
itself by violence but by the force of its own truth.” In this sense,
religion is a positive driving force for the building of civil and political
society. How can anyone deny the contribution of the world’s great religions to
the development of civilization? I am sure those who know the religious history
of India will vouch for the openness of the sages and rishis of Ancient Bharat,
tolerance and acceptance would not have become part of the religious fabric of
our nation.
Role of Religion for the Better World
The sincere search for God has led to greater respect for human dignity.
Christian communities, with their values and principles, have contributed much
to making individuals and peoples aware of their identity and their dignity.
The establishment of democratic institutions and the recognition of human
rights and their corresponding duties are noteworthy. The Pope invites us
Christians to take up the task of responsible involvement in civic, economic,
and political life and much more to be witnesses of charity and faith. Church
in India can be proud of its contribution particularly in the field of
education, medical care and social work. But we need to also acknowledge the
many shortcomings. We educate but we don’t evangelize that is, instill Christian
values; we give health care, but financial gain often takes the prime place; we
uplift the poor but our work becomes a means to popularity. The Pope exhorts
every Catholic institution to be a catalyst for a better world.
To conclude
Dear friends, we started reflecting on the innate connection of human
beings with the transcenent, allowing us to direct our personal and social life
to the divine and to each other. We have seen that the right to religious
freedom is rooted in the very dignity of the human person. When we recognise this
divine dimension, we are led to recognising the divinity in others resulting in
mutual respect. The Pope emphasizes
that the Family plays a vital role in forming the spiritual consciousness in
children, later developed by school, parish, and society. Among the fundamental
rights of man, religious freedom enjoys a special status allowing each person
to profess whichever faith he or she chooses. Of course which must be freely lived
without affecting the rights of others. Religious freedom with its space for
relationship, allows people to practice their religion always working for the common
good. Thus religions contribute much to individuals and the society. If so,
what is our role, our contribution as Christians?
The grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Act now.
