Religious Freedom and a South African Charter of Religious Rights and Freedoms

Abstract

A true understanding of freedom of religion ought to keep Christians from an uncompromising claim that they alone have the answers to the problems of the land and that nobody else can make any meaningful contribution. In Article 8 of the Preamble to the South African (SA) Charter of Religious Rights and Liberties it is clearly stated that the recognition and effective protection of the rights of religious communities and institutions will contribute to a spirit of toleration among the people of South Africa. The South African Constitution describes freedom of religion in rather vague terms merely as . . the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion. The preamble to the Charter, and all the bodies and individuals who endorse it, recognises this inherent dignity, capacity and need of all human beings and thereby also recognises the important place of religion in society. Keywords:Christians; religious freedom; religious rights; South African Charter