Religion : a private freedom, a public constraint : exploring the links between Islam, human rights, inequality, and economic underdevelopment

Abstract

Freedom of religion is one of the fundamental human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, reflected in various international Human Rights instruments and in national constitutions, such as Article 40 of the Maltese Constitution. It does not exist in isolation from other rights and can negatively encroach on those rights, including the right to life and the rights and freedoms of others. Indeed, aside from giving rise to certain ritualistic practices and customs, religion, as a key cultural definer, can colour a society’s complete way of life, influencing social relationships to the extent of justifying and perpetuating negative patriarchal structures anti-ethical to equality, whilst at the same time shaping the society’s economic life and developmental progress. This thesis considers the Mediterranean monotheisms of Judaism, Christianity and Islam generally and their social effects, using Islam as a case study for more detailed analysis. The focus is not on faith as a personal spiritual inner-life vis-àvis a divine being, an experience that can bring real comfort in difficult times and help alleviate existential anxiety. The thesis is instead concerned with organised religion, a phenomenon which is largely a culturally enhanced social construction, too often used as a political tool to maintain power and to subjugate others. In this respect the thesis explores the background to organised religion, its historical and philosophical underpinnings, and its contemporary manifestations, asking if in fact ‘Freedom of Religion’ is an empty term, an oxymoron, a pyrrhic freedom that constrains rather than liberates, and would we ultimately be better advised to reframe it ‘Freedom from Religion’?