Do We Need Secularism To Experience Freedom Of Conscience? Yes, We Do: A Liberal Approach

In this essay I will discuss the need for a secular legal and political realm if individuals will experience their freedom of religion and conscience. To this aim, I will first discuss the concept of liberty/freedom and provide Isaiah Berlin’s distinction between the negative and positive forms of it. Secondly, I will present freedom of conscience and religion as a kind of negative liberty. It will be argued that this freedom can be enjoyed in the best possible way only in a secular legal/political framework. Thirdly, I will discuss whether it is possible to have freedom of conscience in a theocratic system. Finally, I will present a liberal secular utopia where all different conscientious beliefs coexist with one another on the basis of mutual toleration.