Religious Freedom and Pluralism: Constitutional Approaches in Diverse Societies

Introduction

The concept of religious liberty, often known as freedom of religion, upholds the right of an
individual or group to freely express their religious beliefs via instruction, practice, worship,
and observance in both public and private settings. The variety and plurality of religions are
pervasive in modern culture and may be seen all across the world. 1 For this only reason, the
majority of experts purposefully state that religious diversity is now a reality in the modern
world. The term pluralism is defined as "the existence of different groups of people in one
society" by the Oxford Advance Learning Dictionary. 2 In light of the idea of religious
diversity, the present research will compare and contrast the teachings of the Semitic
religions, with a particular emphasis on Islam's remarkable tolerance for other faiths. Both
Christianity and Judaism are Abrahamic faiths, and they have some things in common with
Islam.4. "Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with more than two billion
adherents." With 1.8 billion adherents, Islam is the religion with the second-largest following.
The "Virtual Jewish Library" provides data indicating that there are around 14 million Jews
worldwide, making up a smaller percentage than adherents of the other two Abrahamic
faiths.3

Islam demonstrated religious plurality and taught its adherents to treat adherents of other
faiths with tolerance, peace, and goodwill after asserting that it is the only genuine religion.
Six Following the move to Madina, where Jews were granted complete religious freedom, an
Islamic kingdom was established. Living in an Islamic state, they also experienced equality
and social justice. The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) built a state composed of several groups
and religions while doing his utmost to uphold human dignity. As a result, the Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) has been effective in preserving the feeling of unity among Muslims and
other religious communities. Islam's teachings, which are still relevant in the modern day,
embody the spirit of religious plurality.

Islam is unique in that it acknowledges that all people are, at their core, creations of Allah,
irrespective of their religion or cultural background. Islam is one of the Abrahamic faiths that
holds that all people are created equal in Allah's sight. All people are descended from single
1
Ihab Hassan, “Pluralism in Postmodern Perspective,” (Critical Inquiry 1986).
2
Oxford Advance Learning Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010).
3
Carl W. Ernst, “Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World,” EEUP, 44 (2004).
parents. Islam also has the ability to acknowledge differences in language, thought, and
religion. Its universal message is to guide people and enlighten them about right and wrong.4

The Hinduism and pluralism

Given that Hinduism "acknowledges different forms and representations of the divine, all
understood in their relation to the supreme being, Brahman," it is inherently pluralistic.
Historians contend that throughout British attempts to categorise distinct Indic ideologies, the
distinction between the subcontinent's many Indic faiths was hazy prior to their precise
categorization and separation. Furthermore, Hinduism is the oldest significant religion, which
explains why there isn't much hostility towards certain religious traditions. As a result, there
are no theological issues with Hinduism recognising elements of truth found in other faiths.()
Swami Bhaskarananda contends that Hinduism emphasises that everyone really worships the
same God, whether one is aware of this or not, from a Vedantic standpoint. The Indian
philosopher Ksemaraja states in the eighth sutra of the Pratyabhijñahrdyam that all the
siddhantas, or theses of all the darsanas (schools of thought), are just the many facets of the
same Atman. It is all-encompassing and all-pervasive; matter, awareness, and emptiness are
all only parts of it or various roles it plays. Many Hindus who adhere to Sanatana Dharma
have the commonly held belief that pluralism is part of the Advaita Vedanta worldview.
Several lesser-known thinkers, such as the Indian philosopher Vijñabhikshu, have attempted
to include Indic philosophies under lineages other than Advaita. Therefore, an understanding
of Hinduism and its essential multiplicity requires a culture of open borders, constant contact,
and synthesis amongst all schools of thought.5

Numerous sutras, smriti, shruti, and mantras highlight the concept that there are several paths
to Truth or an underlying Reality.

The Judaism and the Pluralistic Society

One of the Abrahamic and Islamic faiths that holds to the idea of God's unity is Judaism. The
dispersed Jews are those who have made their homes around the globe."Jewish doctrine is
predicated on two ideas: the supremacy of the Israelites and the oneness of the Almighty
Lord. The Torah is the most revered sacred text in Judaism. The social and theological rules
of Judaism serve as the foundation for Jewish customs and traditions. This body of
legislation, referred to as Halakha, offers directions on both religious and everyday affairs.
4
Scott Vitkovic, “The Similarities and Differences between Abrahamic Religions,” AISS (2018).
5
Fisher, Elaine M. “Hindu Pluralism: Religion and the Public Sphere in Early Modern South India.”, JAS
(2022).
Three primary features that illuminate religious variety are covered in this research. The
following is a list of these three qualities: the heritage of intellectual plurality, which is
primarily found in the Halakic community, the internal structure of Judaism that demonstrates
that Judaism is exclusive to one country, and the tradition's attitude towards tolerance. All of
mankind is separated into many ethnic groups, each of which has its own set of laws and
languages. However, Israel and the other countries of the globe are the two primary
categories into which mankind is divided in Jewish Biblical literature.6

The covenant, which affirms that Torah is the law of the Israelities and that only Jews are
subject to its laws, is said to play a crucial part in Jewish treaties. They therefore assert that
they have a divine design, in which the monotheistic character of the Jewish heritage is
juxtaposed with those who engage in idolatry and shirk. Not only that, but the Talmudic text
explicitly allows for prejudice towards non-Jews. In addition, the rabbinic tradition
formulates two legal tactics, views everyone else as an idolater except Jews, and makes it
abundantly evident that it is unacceptable for other groups to be morally and religiously
corrupted. It is crucial to comprehend darkhei shalom in this context, which states that Jews
have the right to avoid idolaters and are responsible for upholding societal harmony.
Nonetheless, the literature written by the Rabbis placed great emphasis on strengthening
social ties with the local pagan population. Therefore, it may be claimed that the idea of
darkhei shalom emphasises the legitimacy of moral relativism while also serving as the
foundation for tolerance.7

Jews have always held the views that they are Allah's chosen people and that they have a
covenant with him. They believe that the Torah, which includes guidance for Jews, is inspired
by God. The Talmudic literature claims that Christianity is an idolatry. While the majority of
Orthodox rabbis do not participate in interfaith religious discourse, modern Orthodox rabbis
do. Many have different opinions. For example, Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits claims that
"Christianity is Christianity because it rejects Judaism, and Judaism is Judaism because it
rejects Christianity."8

Christianity and the Christian community

6
John Corrigan, Frederick Denny, Martin S. Jaffee & Carlos Eire, “Jews, Christians, Muslims: A Comparative
Introduction to Monotheistic Religions,” Springer, Cham, 7-12 (2011).
7
Sergio DellaPergola, World Jewish Population, The American Jewish Year Book (2018).
8
Ihab Hassan, “Pluralism in Postmodern Perspective, Critical Inquiry,” AJYB (1986).
 The teachings and real-life example of Jesus Christ from the first century AD are the
foundation of Christianity, the greatest religion in the world. It is believed that there are more
than two billion believers in the world. There are several sects within this faith, including as
"Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches." One of the oldest branches is
the Oriental Orthodox churches, which lost touch with both Eastern Orthodoxy and Western
Christianity due to a disagreement over Christology (the meaning and essence of Jesus
Christ) in the middle of the fifth century and continued to do so until the late twentieth
century.

For almost two millennia, society, law, culture, religion, and other factors have all impacted
Christianity and its overall impact on our civilization. As a Semitic religion, Christianity
holds the doctrine of the Trinity. Worldwide, it is said to have around two billion followers.
Christianity has many different denominations, the two main ones being Catholic and
Protestant. Christians live in a diverse culture where their practises and beliefs are accepted
without question, yet they also likely have deep prejudices against them. Based on biblical
arguments, some Christian scholars have claimed that religious bigotry is an untrue or
contradictory concept.9

The state of religion in the globe is also changing. The institutional forms of Christianity are
in disrepair in several parts of the West. New sorts of religious obligation evolve when people
gradually detach individual confidence from institutional having a place. The pursuit of
genuine spirituality in relation to a contemporary way of life poses significant challenges for
houses of worship. Furthermore, since minorities, individuals of various conventions, such as
Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and so on, have gradually migrated into these areas, they
often encounter the should be in exchange with the majority local area. This gives Christians
the freedom to show their faith in ways that matter to them and their neighbours; speech
entails both the responsibility for one's faith and the capacity to articulate it in both words and
deeds.

At the same time, Christianity is spreading fast in certain parts of the globe, especially in
terms of outreach and Pentecostal manifestations. Christianity is undergoing radical
transformation in certain areas as Christians adopt new and vibrant forms of chapel life and
form new relationships with indigenous communities. By all accounts, Christianity seems to

9
Sergio DellaPergola, “World Jewish Population,” AJYB, 361-449 (2018).
be declining in certain parts of the globe, while it has grown into a distinctive force in
others.10

Islam and religious pluralism

Muslims' overall attitude towards others was characterised by mutual charity, kinship, and a
strong propensity for compromise, peace, harmony, and friendliness at the Prophet's
suggestion. The chance to practise one's own confidence, the pursuit of social equality,
balance, brotherhood, and the preservation of human dignity became standard when the
Prophet (peace be upon him) established himself in Madinah. It has historically facilitated
maintaining harmony and balance between followers of different religions. Based on its
teachings, Islam recognises religious plurality. These teachings have shown to be effective in
the past and will continue to be relevant for a very long time.

Both Muslims and non-Muslims in the community shall be subject to the rules and teachings
that Islam has provided for the creation of an ideal society. The Qur'an has given explicit
instructions and guidelines for reciprocity in relationships with people of various faiths living
in a community together. Islam established the following foundations for relationships: good
behaviour, empathy, cooperation, and mutual compassion.11

Examining the teachings of Islam clearly shows that, in light of the prophets' revelations of
Divine guidance, the central message of the prophets had been to bring people to the Oneness
of God. All the prophets were, in this sense, submitters to Allah, and Islam is not only the
religion preached by Muhammad (peace be upon him), but also the religion practised by the
followers of the many real prophets of God, including Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses,
and Jesus. The Qur'an provides evidence that Christianity and Judaism are genuine religious
traditions revealed by God prior to the contradictions in the teachings of its adherents. It
probably disapproves of certain Jewish and Christian customs, but it also upholds the divine
message found in their scriptures. Even Nevertheless, there were occasions when God's
revealed will was modified by specific legal regulations, such as food guidelines or categories
of love. Nevertheless, the fundamentals of true religion have remained constant throughout
time. Most people see it via Islamic tradition.12

10
Giuseppe Giordan & Enzo Pace, Religious Pluralism: Framing Religious Diversity in the Contemporary
World, SC (2014).
11
Al-Kahtany, “The Universality of Islam”, IEC (2008).
12
Tazeem Haider, “Universality in the Message of Quran,” JSAS, 61-65 (2016).
Islam protected the rights and welfare of non-Muslims residing in the Islamic state and
acknowledged them as fellow citizens of the Islamic state. Islamic law has extremely explicit
teachings of the values that guarantee non-Muslim residents of Islamic states the protection
of their life, property, and right to practise their faith. The verses in the holy Quran that either
directly or indirectly address the subject of religious plurality and variety are listed in precise
detail in the section that follows.13

Conclusion

Finally, the examination of Religious Freedom and Pluralism: Constitutional Approaches in

The research emphasises how different religions approach and interact with one another, as
well as the reality of religious variety in the current world. The teachings of the Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) show that Islam is a proponent of religious diversity, placing a strong
emphasis on tolerance, peace, and kindness towards followers of other religions. An early
illustration of Islam's inclusive philosophy is the creation of an Islamic state in Madina,
which was dedicated to social justice and religious freedom.

Hinduism welcomes a naturally diverse viewpoint because of its ancient roots. The
recognition of many manifestations of the divine and the conviction in several routes to
veracity demonstrate the innate pluralism of Hinduism. Hinduism's wide limits and cultural
flexibility are a result of the ongoing interaction and synthesis between many schools of
thought.

The Abrahamic religions, which include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, on the other hand,
provide distinctive viewpoints towards religious pluralism. Judaism exhibits a more exclusive
approach with its emphasis on the covenant with Israel and the oneness of God. Talmudic
literature highlights the difficulties in striking a balance between tolerance and pickiness, and
permits discriminating treatment of non-Jews.

Since it is now impracticable to remain distant in the modern world, religious plurality is now
prevalent worldwide. It is part of our religious traditions to have interfaith discussions and
13
John Corrigan, Frederick Denny, Martin S. Jaffee & Carlos Eire, “Jews, Christians, Muslims: A Comparative
Introduction to Monotheistic Religions,” Springer, Cham, 7-12 (2011).
dialogues in order to provide individuals the chance to carefully follow Islamic teachings. It
is imperative that we acknowledge this and provide people of different religions the chance to
engage in conversation. Seeking shared ontological foundations will facilitate mutual
understanding.

This investigation has led to the conclusion that religious freedom and pluralism are crucial
for the peace and well-being of various communities in addition to being fundamental
constitutional elements. The teachings of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism provide
light on the opportunities and difficulties of negotiating religious plurality in the
contemporary world. A foundation for creating societies in which people are allowed to
openly express their religious views and where different religious groups are united,
respected, and understanding of one another is provided by a constitutional framework
upholding these ideals. Fundamentally, the quest for religious plurality and freedom is still an
active and continuous path towards building inclusive communities that value and honour the
variety of religious practises and beliefs.