--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It follows from this that it is those who…" description: "\"“It follows from this that it is those who fail to promote religious freedom for all people with the same vigor with which they promote freedom of expr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/timothy-shah-34549_freedom_it-follows-from-this-that-it-is-those-wh_644864.jpg" --- # It follows from this that it is those who fail to promote… ![“It follows from this that it is those who fail to promote religious freedom for all people with the same vigor with which they promote freedom of expression, democratic elections, and the rights of women, and those who invent reasons to demote religion to a lower and optional category of rights…” quote by Timothy Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/timothy-shah-34549_freedom_it-follows-from-this-that-it-is-those-wh_644864.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/timothy-shah-34549_freedom_it-follows-from-this-that-it-is-those-wh_644864.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/timothy-shah-34549_freedom_it-follows-from-this-that-it-is-those-wh_644864.jpg) > ““It follows from this that it is those who fail to promote religious freedom for all people with the same vigor with which they promote freedom of expression, democratic elections, and the rights of women, and those who invent reasons to demote religion to a lower and optional category of rights and freedoms, who are guilty of special pleading. Such persons often defend human rights of every other kind, but find special, ad hoc reasons for removing religion from normal democratic protections, or depriving religious persons and communities of rights and freedoms to which they have every claim. This kind of special pleading, sadly, is an equal-opportunity myopia, afflicting conservatives and liberals, Muslims and Christians, Hindus and Buddhists, atheists and the indifferent alike.”” [Timothy Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-shah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that excluding religion from rights is a form of special pleading, a bias present across ideologies. **In simple terms:** Excluding religion is biased special pleading. Key Takeaway Recognize and avoid bias in rights discussions. Themes bias special pleading religious freedom Mood critical analytical Type essay argumentative When to use this quote - policy debates - legal frameworks - public discourse Key Concepts human rights democracy ideological bias Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure equal protection for all beliefs? - What are the risks of excluding religion from rights? A Different Perspective Some may view religion as non‑essential to rights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demote Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demote-religion-5169647/) [Depriving Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depriving-religious-5169646/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-expression/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-freedom/) [Religious person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-person/) [Religious Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-persons-4889985/) [Special Pleading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-pleading-589538/) ## Related quotes > [It is a sign of our times, conspicuous to the coarsest observer, that many intelligent and religious persons withdraw themselves from the common labors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-a-sign-of-our-times-conspicuous-to-the-coarsest-observer-that/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/one-hundred-religious-persons-knit-into-a-unity-by-careful/) [A.W. 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