Islamic Thoughts

Bright Spot Of The Us Constitution: Religious Freedom

5. BRIGHT SPOT OF THE US CONSTITUTION: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

American Constitution is one of the longest lasting constitutions of the world. Adopted in 1789, it included first ten amendments as a package named 'Bill of Rights' two years later (in 1791); later it added more 17 amendments mostly in the form of enhanced rights. For the world of believers, it boasts of a 'crown jewel' namely Establishment clause establishing a high wall between government and religion, ensuring a safety from undue interference from one another. Founding fathers like Thomas Jefferson had freshness in their knowledge about how the medieval Church acted like a government and abused human rights particularly through notorious Inquisition (brutal court that denied due process of law).

Such separation between religion and government offers double-edge benefits. One, the government is keeping hands off promoting or demoting any religion, extending 'Laissez Faire' benefit of freedom beyond business sector into religious field as well. Two, any particular religion cannot legally have any scope to exert any negative influence on government policy. This means all the religions have chance to co-exist with benefit of beauty typical of cultural mosaic and at the same time flourish according to their respective merits. Thanks in part for this constitutional provision the religions in general are maintaining their presence in USA without any remarkable breach of peace or violence.

There is however one aspect that needs to be addressed. This has nothing to do with the Constitution itself but with the way it is interpreted. Freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment has been rationally interpreted by the Supreme Court to exclude harmful speech like shouting "fire" in a crowd causing deadly stampede, as for example. Likewise, false and insulting comments made against any holy religion should be made exception to the approved category of free speeches made publicly. This will not only help maintain peace in the society but will also bring fame to the interpreting judges.