Freedom of Speech and Religious Freedom

[pinkyandperk]

Are the right to freedom of speech and the right to religious freedom compatible?

[LazyGun]

Sure they can.. the only reason there is any debate about this at all is because of the religious fundies who cry blasphemy or intolerable offence at the slightest perceived criticism of their religion of choice, and go whinging on and on and on about it until pusillanimous governments legislate on their behalf to make illegal any adverse comment about religion.

[Lonnie]

Most definately the answer is yes,

[brionon]

Lazy gun, As usual you got it right.

[littleone85]

Generally freedom of speech and right to religious freedom should be able to coexist, However, in practice it is unlikely that we shall ever be able to reconcile freedom of speech and right to religious freedom and in some cases these two competing viewpoints should not be reconciled. One problem with this is that often as LazyGun said the religious may percieve debate as an attack on their religious freedoms, however this is not just from religious fundamentalists, for to have true freedom of speech one must be willing to accept ANYTHING that someone says from the banal to the completely repugnant, i'm sure even the most liberal religious person or even non religious person would seek to censor some expressions, however undoubtably this infringes on the right to freedom of speech Also religious freedoms do not only encompass religious belief but also religious practice. Religious practice is often tied up in cultural practices, for example celebrating christmas, however this can also be applied to female circumcision, a practice which in some countries is commonly performed with crude instruments and often destroys the ability to reach orgasm or even as a result of infection can compromise reproductive capability,not suprisingly this is a practice that many seek to legislate against, however this by any definition would infringe on the right to religious freedom.
For these reasons freedom of speech and right to religious freedoms can never trult exist.

[LazyGun]

Some good points there little one, particularly about female circumcision, which is barbaric.