Freedom Quote by S.T. Joshi
““Even a superstitious man has certain inalienable rights. He has a right to harbor and indulge his imbecilities as long as he pleases, provided only he does not try to inflict them upon other men by force. He has a right to argue for them as eloquently as he can, in season and out of season. He has a right to teach them to his children. But certainly he has no right to be protected against the free criticism of those who do not hold them. He has no right to demand that they be treated as sacred. He has no right to preach them without challenge… The meaning of religious freedom, I fear, is sometimes greatly misapprehended. It is taken to be a sort of immunity, not merely from governmental control but also from public opinion. A dunderhead gets himself a long-tailed coat, rises behind the sacred desk and emits such bilge as would gag a Hottentot. Is it to pass unchallenged? If so, then what we have is not religious freedom at all, but the most intolerable and outrageous variety of religious despotism. Any fool, once he is admitted to holy orders, becomes infallible. Any half-wit, by the simple device of ascribing his delusions to revelation, takes on an authority that is denied to all the rest of us. (MR 216)””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Religious Freedom and Its Limits,” from The Encyclopedia of Religion, 2005
Religious freedom protects belief but not the right to impose those beliefs on others; it must be balanced with critique and accountability.
In simple terms: Freedom to believe, not to force.
Key Takeaway
Respect belief, challenge harmful doctrine.
Themes
freedom
religion
rights
critique
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
critical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- academic discussions
- media commentary
- community meetings
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
civil liberties
ethical limits
public discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should be placed on religious expression?
- How do we protect both belief and dissent?
A Different Perspective
Absolute protection can enable dogmatism and oppression.
![“any system of morals which has a theological basis becomes one of the tools by which the holders of power preserve their authority and impair the intellectual vigor of the young. ("Can Religion Cure Our Troubles?" [1954], Y 196)” quote by S.T. Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/16b/s-t-joshi-37452_character_any-system-of-morals-which-has-a-theolog_2886123.jpg)
