Considerations regarding tolerance and freedom of religious beliefs in Colombia since the political constitution of 1991

Abstract

Consideraciones en torno a la tolerancia y la libertad de cultos en Colombia a partir de la Constitución Política de 1991 194 Revista Republicana Núm. 35, julio a diciembre de 2023 Este texto presenta tres hechos religiosos ocurridos en Francia antes de la Revo- lución, es decir, antes del desarrollo de las ideas de la Ilustración francesa, como ejemplos de lo peligroso que puede ser el autoritarismo religioso. Estos hechos se presentan para darnos cuenta de la importancia del respeto de las libertades individuales, y sobre todo de la importancia de utilizar la razón humana para desligarse de las vendas que las creencias imponen, y más cuan- do esas creencias se vuelven fanatismo. Palabras clave: Tolerancia, agnosticismo, ateísmo, fanatismo religioso ABSTRACT This article analyzes some of the transformations of the notion of freedom of religious convictions derived from the new approach on the matter that the Political Constitution of 1991 brought to Colombian society. An analysis was carried out between the Political Constitution of 1886 and that of 1991, showing how the principle of religious tolerance was introduced in Colombia. This principle also means respect for those agnostic and/or atheist people, who prefer to believe in the use of human reason to decide for themselves about their life principles. This text presents three religious events that occurred in France before the Revolution, that is, before the development of the ideas of the French Enlightenment, as examples of how dangerous religious authoritarianism can be. These facts are presented to make us realize the importance of respect for indi- vidual freedoms, and above all the importance of using human reason to free oneself from the blindfolds that beliefs impose, and even more so when those beliefs become fanaticism.