Religious Expression in a Free Democracy
Freedom of Religion and Democracy’s Conscience
by Professor Dr. Trung Pham, Seattle University
After the Vietnam War, my father spent six years in a re-education camp. He endured forced labor, malnutrition, and ideological indoctrination. One day, he carved a small Madonna statue as a gift for a friend, who asked him to present it simply as a mother-and-child figure. A communist officer discovered its true meaning. As punishment, my father was confined to a dark cell for ten days, his legs chained until they swelled.
Why would a small religious carving provoke such fear? Because freedom – especially religious freedom – threatens authoritarian regimes. Politics can imprison bodies, but faith empowers the human spirit with hope, identity, and resilience beyond the State’s control.
I live today in a different context: American democracy, where religious liberty is enshrined in law. Yet my father’s story reminds me that freedom is fragile, never guaranteed, and always contested.
History shows that freedom has taken three distinct forms: freedom for, freedom of, and freedom from religion.
Freedom for religion is the spiritual dimension I have in mind. It is the freedom to seek truth and live in response to God. This freedom springs from human dignity. No one should be forced to act against their conscience or be prevented from following it. Martyrs and witnesses throughout history embodied this freedom, choosing fidelity to their faith even at great cost.
Freedom of religion is a civil right, by which one may practice one’s faith without coercion. This principle emerged after the Reformation, gained strength in the Enlightenment, and is foundational in the US Constitution’s First Amendment.
Freedom from religion is equally important: no one should be compelled to adopt or practice a faith. The French Revolution and the modern rise of secularism are two historical periods that remind societies to protect pluralism and prevent state-imposed religion.
Together, these freedoms form the foundation of modern democracy.
Democracy itself rests on the conviction that every person possesses inherent dignity and worth. From this flow the freedoms of speech, assembly, press, and religion, which are interwoven. Remove any of these freedoms, and the others also unravel. In particular, religious freedom safeguards conscience and prevents any government from dictating the deepest convictions of the human heart. Without it, democracy becomes empty rhetoric.
Some critics argue that religion should remain private, fearing it may impose dogma. But history shows otherwise. Faith communities have often been democracy’s conscience. The American Civil Rights Movement, led by preachers like Martin Luther King Jr., drew its power from biblical imagery and moral conviction. Movements for the abolition of slavery, campaigns for peace, and humanitarian efforts worldwide have also been fueled by faith. Far from threatening democracy, religion has often strengthened it.
Photo by Yuriy Kovalev on Unsplash
Faith also enriches public debate. Political institutions deliberate policies and laws, but religion asks deeper questions: What kind of people do we want to be? What responsibilities do we owe to each other? How do we ensure justice and compassion for future generations? These questions remind us that freedom is not merely about self-interest, but about the common good.
Of course, true freedom is never absolute. It must be cultivated through education, spiritual discipline, and virtue. Freedom is not simply the ability to choose between similar options, like one brand of soda over another. Absolute freedom involves deciding what is good, life-giving, and just. Religious liberty does not excuse intolerance, nor does it justify imposing belief on others. It calls for humility, respect for pluralism, and dialogue across differences. Authentic faith nurtures patience, hospitality, and forgiveness – virtues that sustain civic life in times of tension.
History warns us that democracies weaken themselves when they suppress religion. Authoritarian regimes often start by targeting faith communities because faith fosters resilience and hope beyond the State’s control.
According to Open Doors’ World Watch List 2023, more than 360 million Christians – about one in seven worldwide – face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. Yet, democracies are not immune to danger. They risk harm when religion is exploited for political gain. For example, contentious issues such as abortion are often framed in religious terms and used to divide voters in American elections. Conversely, when democracies embrace true religious diversity, they become stronger by fostering resilience, creativity, and solidarity among citizens who learn to live with difference.
Expressing freedom is not only about claiming rights; it is about using freedom to build communities of dignity and justice. Religious liberty, both as a personal right and as a public good, ensures that difference does not lead to division, but to more profound solidarity.
When religion and democracy work together, freedom is transformed from self-interest into shared responsibility. It becomes a path to human flourishing, where people of all beliefs, or none, can work together for justice, compassion, and peace.