THE PROBLEM IS THE NEED FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN SOUTH AFRICA
1 BRIEF BACKGROUND OF HUMAN RIGHT COUNCIL AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION
Human right council is one of the united nation’s intergovernmental body that is responsible for protecting and promoting the exercised of human rights around the world. Its primary responsibility is to ensure that countries understand the seriousness of human rights violation and that they know that they know the consequence that comes with human right violation. This council is made up of 47 elected member states of the united nation and these states are elected by UN General Assembly. This council was established on 15 March 2006 by UN general assembly.
Freedom of religion is defined as freedom of human rights (Universal Declaration of Human Rights). According to article 18, every individual in the society has the right to freedom of religion, thought and conscience. This means that everyone can change his/her religion or belief in private or public to the religion of their choice. Therefore, freedom of religion is similar to human rights.
2 THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM
Human rights are being comprised and some of those human rights is the right to religion. Freedom of religion is global recognised as human right but other governments do not respect it. Contrary to those countries, South African government have a great respect to freedom of religion. The constitution of South Africa of 1996 contains god references in way of asking him to protect and bless the nation. Similarly to the constitution, South African national anthem also contains god references. The Bill of rights found on chapter 9 of South African constitution contains numerous procedures of dealing with freedom of religion. Therefore,...
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...ds to promote this wonderful idea of universality of religion freedom. There have been many religious conflicts in many countries which resulted in civil protest/war. South Africa on other hand had never witnessed these conflicts because our constitution is designed to suit the right of every individual by ensuring that everyone exercises their rights to the fullest. In South Africa we live in peace and harmony. It is because of these reasons that I fail to understand why some other countries would forbid such a beautiful thing freedom of religion (Van Rooyen, 2013:5). In South Africa people are allowed to wear their religious clothes or symbols in public and even have public holidays that are reserved specifically for religions ie Good Friday. Therefore, we as South African we say ‘no’ to the violation of human rights and Yes to protection of religious freedom.
Citizens of America can choose their religion, they can also choose what they want to say, through freedom of speech. These rights can sometimes be disrespected by others who do not have the same beliefs or opinions. For example, if a company does not want to provide service to someone based on a different belief
"United Human Rights Council." United Human Rights Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013. .
The stories of Dona Beatriz, Uthman dan Fodio, and Guimba the Tyrant present three cases in which religion and politics overlapped in different ways and to varying degrees. These three individuals lived in distinct historical contexts and had unique religious trainings, sources of spiritual power, track records as religious and political authorities, goals for reshaping the religious and political landscape of their regions, reputations among their contemporaries, and obstacles with which to contend.
In the first amendment, it is stated that all people have the Freedom of speech, religion,
What is freedom of religion? Today people speak freely about their own views over specific topics regarding what they believe and what they think is the truth. Along with everything in life, there are limits and laws that the government of the United States have established. Freedom of religion originated is taught in schools that the Pilgrims traveled to America because they were trying to find freedom, unlike in England where they were not allowed to live out their own beliefs. The Puritans came to America shortly after as well as many others have done and continue to do from all over the globe. However, colonies were being established before they started ...
The First Amendment gives its citizens the freedom of religion, not the freedom to only practice the beliefs instated by Christianity:
Freedom of religion technically means that everyone has the choice of believing in whatever they want, and the government has no right to force anyone to accept, interfere, or worship any certain religion. Freedom of speech allows American citizens to speak out their opinion or thoughts, and have right of disagreeing with other judgments. Freedom of the press lets citizens to remain knowledgeable and updated on what is going on in government. Freedom of Assembly gives the opportunity to every American to join their interest of any kind of political parties or interest groups. Freedom to Petition gives permission to people to have the right of telling the government their personal opinion, complains, and what they are in the need of. Overall, these given freedoms play a big role in our society today and provides “The people” equality and fair life
The legal basis for religious freedom cases is founded in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” From this statement, two schools of interpretation were born.
Across the world, people are persecuted because of their beliefs. In America, we are fortunate to be able to have freedom of religion. Freedom of religion is important; people can freely partake in the practices of their religion without defiance. Religion can easily be defined as something one believes...
In Australia, freedom of religion means the ability to practise whatever religion you want (or no
Recent happenings in history; For instance, the apartheid that was about the racial oppression that a contest of supremacy of races is traced to the religion of Christianity. Christian teachings of the gospel are totally opposed to domination or being subdued of one race by another. “The biblical understanding of racial differences has been taken out of context resulting to racism an issue Christianity is seeking to address to combat racism true to the Scripture”. Christianity itself places a duty on its faithful to object and protest against racism.
Religious censorship happens in countries where the government is close to a religion or where religious feeling run high. Individual rights are written in the Bill of Rights section of the Constitution.
Religion is the foundation for all societies and cultures. Religion makes people who they are. Because the United States was founded on the principles of religion, the citizens of this country can practice whatever religion they like without being persecuted. The liberties provided under the Constitution allow individuals to practice their religious beliefs openly and without judgment. These beliefs provide guidance and structure in the lives of these individuals. Religion influence many aspects of day to day issues such as life choices, dress, and education. Religion is an important entity in the lives of many. Religious freedom includes the right to assemble for private and public worship, determine the conditions of membership, give religious instructions, preach its message publically, and publish and circulate religious material (Religious Freedom).
What is human rights? According to the New World Encyclopedia Human rights are those rights that each person is entitled to simply because he or she is a human being. Human rights are guaranteed by law no matter one’s nationality and should not be violated by any state or none-state officials. The idea of human rights depends on the possibility that every individual has worth and nobility and in this way merits certain fundamental freedoms.[1] With the acknowledgement of these basic freedoms, each person can make their own decisions and form their own opinions without their rights of safety or security being violated or threatened by government or nongovernment bureaucrats. Therefore, it is understood globally that humans are entitled to at least three types of rights. First, is civil rights which incorporates individual rights to freedom of speech, religion, and beliefs. Next,
No, according to the Constitution of South Africa all have the right to their own religion uitteleef . No one can be forced to worship or not to worship. We agree with the law and feel that everyone is entitled to their own free choices .