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The idea of freedom of religion was developed in Europe in the 16th and 17th century in the context of religious diversity as an alternative for religious wars.

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- A Free Country -- The Bill of Rights -- Staying Separate -- Free to Express Your Faith -- Freedom of Religion Around the World -- Fear or Freedom? -- Different Points of View -- Celebrating Diversity -- Respecting All Religions -- Glossary -- For More Information -- Index -- Back Cover.

pt. 1. Three perspectives on freedom of religion and belief -- pt. 2. Contents and protection of the freedom of religion and belief -- pt. 3. The problems of freedom of religion and belief -- pt. 4. Freedom of religion and belief and other human rights : tensions.

This article proposes that we view freedom of religion as a specific application area of more general basic liberties such as freedoms of thought, expression, association, assembly, movement, privacy, political participation, and economic activity. Separate enumeration of freedom of religion in national and international bills of rights may be useful, but it is not indispensable. In this respect freedom of religion is more like scientific freedom or artistic freedom than like freedom of expression. Recognizing that separate enumeration of freedom of religion is dispensable has salutary consequences for how we conceive and justify freedom as it applies to religion. First, we see that the general grounds of the basic liberties will also be the grounds of religious freedom. Second, we gain a broad and ecumenical scope for freedom of religion that extends into areas such as association, movement, politics, and business. Third, this perspective helps us avoid a narrow clause-bound focus in interpreting freedom of religion. Finally, this approach helps us resist exaggerating the priority of freedom of religion.

In a combination of legal, canonical, theological, sociological, and philosophical perspective, this volume analyzes the actual challenges contained in the 16th century concept of 'freedom of religion' in the current, multireligious, globalized world.