religious toleration

For many generations philosophers, theologians and laity have asked of themselves ‘how does religion affect society. As a self identified Humanistic Thomist, I tend to argue that God endowed humankind with the rational intellect and spiritual conscience necessary to exercise free will. It is the exercise of free will in deference to intellect and conscience that permits humankind to choose their r
eligion. This freedom of choice resulted in the development of a multitude of faiths and traditions including the monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It was the desire of the Founders of the United States to protect the right of individual to choose their own religion and to avoid the religious conflicts that engulfed England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales from 1533 to 1746 that prompted James Madison to construct with advice from Thomas Jefferson the proposed amendment to the Constitution which became the First Amendment, an amend designed to promote the free exercise of religion without fear of reprisal by the state, while simultaneously reinforcing the absolute prohibition on requiring office holders to take test oaths or being required to submit to religious tests before being deemed fit for office.

Despite the fact that each of the three Occidental monotheistic faiths that trace their roots back to the Patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim) have engaged in fratricidal conflict in the past all three possesses traditions that permit interfaith dialogue aimed at bringing people together. I would humbly assert that the Dalai Lama, M.K. Ghandi, Mother Teresa, John Dewey, and the Late Aga Khan consistently advocated non-violence, interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence without impressing their views or intentionally baiting those opposed to their world views.

Given the bifurcated nature of the First Amendment where religion is concerned, does United States have a role in facilitating such dialogue? If the United States advocates in favor of interfaith dialogue and actively encourages it, do these actions vitiate the First Amendment by acting in a manner contrary to its spirit?