"Freedom Of, From, For, and Within Religion: Dimensions of a Common Right?"

This past weekend, I attended a fascinating, rich conference at St. Hughes College, Oxford, that was organized by the International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS).  The theme was "Freedom Of/For/From/In Religion:  Differing Dimensions of a Common Right?" (more info here).  Here's the blurb:

Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), once considered to be the “first” freedom, has become a controversial right. In particular, the practical possibility of implementing FoRB in impartial ways are increasingly questioned. Critics argue that FoRB cannot deliver what it promises: an equal share of freedom for people of different or no religion. Further, it is claimed that the right of FoRB, as it is regulated in international and constitutional law, is intrinsically biased because it reflects its Western and Christian origins.

Part of the problem is due to the fact that FoRB is a complex notion, including different dimensions that require careful consideration. Freedom of religion or belief, as a right recognized for every human being, is the first dimension, but not the only one. Freedom from religion, that is the right to live one’s life without being compelled to perform religious acts, is another and freedom for religion, which concerns the institutional side of this right (what was once called “libertas ecclesiae”) is a third dimension that demands consideration. Finally, freedom in religion concerns the rights that the faithful (and sometimes not so faithful) are entitled to enjoy within their religious communities.

My own paper was called "Freedom For Religion:  (Yet) Another View of the Cathedral," and in the paper I mulled over (as I have in some other places) the passages in Dignitatis Humanae that refer to the duty of the public authority to take care of the "conditions" for religious freedom and to proactively support the "religious life" of people (in ways consistent with the religious freedom of all).  

What was particularly rewarding was the fact that scholars came from around the world, not only North America and Europe, and so we were able to get some perspective on the variety of challenges that religious freedom faces in different contexts.  (And, it was nice to grab a pint with fellow MOJ-er, Tom Berg!)