Freedom of conscience in modern humanistic society is considered as a natural human right. It differs from freedom of religion in a broader meaning, since it applies not only to religion, but in general to all beliefs of a person.
Instructions
Step 1
The concept of freedom of conscience, as the right of a person to have any convictions, arose in Europe with the beginning of the Reformation. Sebastian Castellio was one of the first to raise this issue, publishing in 1554 a pamphlet "Should Heretics Be Persecuted".
Step 2
At the legislative level, freedom of conscience was first enshrined in the British Bill of Rights in 1689. This document recognized the right of individuals to have their own beliefs and opinions and to follow them, no matter what others advise. The Bill was of great importance for the development of science in the Age of Enlightenment, since many scientific studies contradicted the dominant religious picture of the world at that time.
Step 3
In 1789, freedom of conscience was proclaimed in France in the tenth article of the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen." Legislatively stated that a person should not be persecuted for his beliefs, if "their promulgation does not threaten public order."
Step 4
The right to freedom of conscience was among the first ten amendments to the US Constitution introduced into the Federal Bill of Sovereignty. This document was ratified at the end of 1791.
Step 5
At the third session of the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. Among others, the declared and "the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion."
Step 6
The distinction between freedom of conscience and freedom of religion in the course of the historical development of first European and then other states deepened the separation of church from state. Although this trend is not seen everywhere. For example, Sharia, as a set of moral and ethical postulates of Islam, includes both secular legal and religious norms, therefore, in such a society, freedom of conscience is out of the question. However, it should be noted that the separation of church from state does not serve as a guarantee of freedom of conscience. In addition, there are countries with a state church, where citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, for example, modern Great Britain and many other monarchical states of Europe. Conversely, in a number of countries with a church separated from the state, the right to freedom of conscience was violated by the authorities, when clergy and believers were persecuted by the authorities. This was the case, for example, in the Soviet Union.
Step 7
The term "freedom of conscience" is often criticized because the very concept of freedom or lack of freedom of conscience as a moral category is rather vague. This concept would be more fully reflected in the term “freedom of opinion”.
