Religious freedom is a fundamental human right.  Are you surprised to read it here?  This is a statement you will have a hard time finding on most free-thinking and atheist web sites.  The fact that people created their Gods for so many very normal reasons entitles them to believe what they want and enjoy this fundamental right as they see fit.

I believe people have the right to believe in God – or not.  It is a personal decision, and for many very good reasons, this is a right we all should defend.  Regardless of your belief or disbelief in God, we cannot go through our daily life judging everyone by their religion or their belief in God.  Belief in God does not necessarily tell you anything about a person’s intelligence, personality, or thought process.  There are so many religions, so many version of God, and as you see in Why Adam and Eve Created God, every believer makes their own version of religion.  You cannot infer anything about someone by simply knowing what religion he/she professes.

And does anyone actually know what another person really believes?  Many people are forced to act as if they really believe in God when they may have serious doubts about their faith, or may even be atheist.  In many elections, politicians must profess a faith in God just to get elected.  Parents require their children to profess the same beliefs that they do.  No questions asked.  Some jobs require people to profess certain beliefs.  It’s physically dangerous to be an atheist in some prisons and in some countries.  So when we meet someone with a spiritual poker-face, its hard to fault them for it.  You can’t judge a person by the brand of religion he claims to endorse – so you should not.

Considering that religion or belief in God, for anyone who professes either, is a fundamental elements of their life.  Freedom of religion or belief should be fully respected and guaranteed.

I am not the only person who thinks Freedom of Religion is a fundamental human right.  Here is a short list of others who also wish to protect this right.

Steve Jobs

A true believer in religious freedom, and a modern-day technology prophet:  “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.  Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.  Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition.”

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson as well, as all the founding Fathers of America,believed that religion was a personal choice.  While Virginia was working on reforming its laws in 1779, Jefferson introduced the Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom in Virginia.  In the constitution of the USA, they put the words: “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” (Article 6, section 3).  They truly wanted religious freedom.

President Bill Clinton

In 1993 he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) — one of the most important civil rights bills.

Pope Paul VI

In 1965 Pope Paul VI wrote Dignitatis Humanae a Declaration of Religious Freedom.

United Nations

In 1981, the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief