Religious Freedom
You have the right to choose what you want to believe in, or not to believe at all. This is called religious freedom, and it is a human right that applies to everyone. In Norway, this right is also written into the Constitution. The Constitution contains the most important rules for how Norway is governed and what rights we have. However, it has not always been like this, and in many parts of the world religious freedom is not taken for granted.
Religious freedom also has limits. We cannot do whatever we want in the name of religion. In this text, we will explore what religious freedom means and how it can be experienced in everyday life.
Trefigurer med symboler fra ulike religioner, som kors, halvmåne, davidsstjerne og om-tegn
What is religious freedom?
Religious freedom is also called freedom of belief and worldview. It means that you have the right to choose what you want to believe in.
You also have the right to live according to your beliefs, either alone or together with others. This can include praying together, taking part in rituals, reading sacred texts, celebrating holidays and traditions, or doing other things that are important to your faith.
You also have the right to change your religion or belief. You can also choose not to belong to any religion.
En krystallkule ligger på et teppe av grønt gress
What can religious freedom look like in everyday life?
Religious freedom is not only about big ideas and important laws. It can also be seen in small things in everyday life.
Maybe you have a classmate who does not eat pork, or who fasts for a period of time. Maybe some students celebrate Eid, Diwali, or other holidays. Maybe some go to church, a mosque, or another place of worship, while others never do. Some wear a cross, hijab, or kippah, while others do not wear any religious symbols at all.
Notice this: Religious freedom means that we can make different choices without being teased, pressured, or left out.
Short reflection:
Have you seen an example of someone being treated differently because of their beliefs, clothing, food, or the holidays they celebrate?
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Elever med ulik etnisk bakgrunn i klasserommet
You can show your beliefs – or not
How you choose to live with your beliefs is up to you. This applies whether you believe in God, Allah, Yahweh, Brahma, Vishnu, follow the teachings of Buddha, believe in Norse gods like Odin and Thor, or believe in forces and magic in nature.
For example, you can choose to wear religious clothing or symbols, such as a cross, hijab, or kippah.
You can choose to follow rules from sacred texts, such as the Bible, the Quran, the Talmud, or the Vedas. You can pray together with others in a place of worship, you can pray at home, or you can choose not to pray.
In practice, this also means that others must be allowed to be themselves. You can have your own beliefs, but you cannot demand that everyone else believes the same as you.
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En gruppe studenter med ulik bakgrunn spiser lunsj sammen
Changing your religion is also allowed
You can change from one religion to another, or change direction within a religion.
Changing your beliefs does not always mean going from one religion to a completely different one. Sometimes, people change direction within the same religion. For example, a Christian may change denomination, or a Muslim may follow a different branch than before. They still believe in the same religion, but choose a different way of practicing their faith.
The same religion – different directions
En ung kvinne som sitter på setet ved vinduet og ser ut
Religious Freedom is a Human Right
Religious freedom is a human right. Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” (1948)
When something is a human right, it means we have it simply because we are human. No one is allowed to take this right away from us.
Religious freedom is also included in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 14:
“All children have the right to think and believe what they want. Parents have the right to guide them.” (1989)
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Mange forskjellige menneskefigurer laget av papir
Why is religious freedom important?
Being able to believe what you want is important for the right to have your own opinions.
Being able to express your beliefs, for example through rituals, clothing, or food, can also be important for expressing who you are.
In this way, religious freedom is connected to other important rights in a democracy. When people can have and express different opinions, we can have a society where more people feel that they belong.
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En gruppe unge venner som sitter sammen og ler
Limits to religious freedom
Can you say and do anything just because you say it is about religion? No, you cannot.
You are not allowed to harm or discriminate against others, no matter the reason. Society cannot decide what you think, but the law decides how we are allowed to treat other people.
In practice, this means, for example, that you cannot use religion as a reason to bully, threaten, or exclude others. You can have different opinions, but you still have to follow rules that are meant to protect others.
Reflection:
Where do you think the line goes between “I can believe what I want” and “I must take others into account”?
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Kvinne som lager et stoppskilt med hånden
Do everyone have religious freedom?
In some countries, it is forbidden to change religion or not to follow the state religion. People can be punished, threatened, or excluded if they believe differently from what is expected. For example, a young person may be denied access to school, be rejected by their family, or end up in prison because they want to change their beliefs.
In such cases, people do not have religious freedom, even if there are laws that say they do.
Religious freedom has also been violated in Norway. The Sami had their own religion, connected to nature, stories, and rituals, and for a long time it was forbidden to practice Sami religion. Many Sami were forced to stop their traditions and their beliefs.
When the Constitution was introduced in 1814, Christianity was the state religion. Some groups, such as Jews and Sami, were not free to live according to their beliefs. Later, the laws were changed, and today everyone in Norway has the right to believe what they want.
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En alvorlig utseende gutt står i skolegangen. Bak ham står to klassekamerater
What about children’s religious freedom?
You might be wondering: Does religious freedom apply to children too?
Many children do what their family does. They celebrate holidays, eat certain foods, or follow traditions without having chosen it themselves. Religion and culture can often be closely connected.
As long as you are under 15 years old, your parents can decide whether you belong to a religious community or not. But you have the right to express your opinion, and your parents should listen to you. As you grow older, your opinions should matter more.
When you turn 15, you can decide for yourself whether you want to belong to a religious community, change to another one, or leave one. Your parents can give advice, but the choice is yours.
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Familie som feirer påskeferien sammen med bestemoren og barna
In summary
Religious freedom is a human right. It gives you the right to choose what you want to believe and the right to practice your beliefs alone or together with others. Religious freedom is important in a democracy. At the same time, it has limits: no one is allowed to harm or discriminate against others.
En gruppe studenter som går sammen i rekke med armene rundt hverandres skuldre
Sources
- https://lille.snl.no/tros-_og_livssynsfrihet
- https://snl.no/religionsfrihet
- https://www.ung.no/demokrati-og-valg/429_Retten_til_religionsfrihet.html
- https://fn.no/avtaler/menneskerettigheter/fns-verdenserklaering-om-menneskerettigheter
- https://fn.no/avtaler/menneskerettigheter/barnekonvensjonen
- https://www.norgeshistorie.no/grunnlov-og-ny-union/1316-religionstvang-ikke-religionsfrihet.html
- https://snl.no/J%C3%B8deparagrafen
- https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/religion/religious-freedom-restrictions/international-religious-freedom-restrictions/
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