Religious Freedom in Germany.

This is a response to "Anonymous'" query as to my thoughts on this article.

I'm not aware of the background for the German Justice Minister's comments on religious freedom and religious schools. I do know, however, that in some European countries there has been public concerns about schools run by religious minorities, in particular those run by Muslim groups. The criticism has been that the children in some of these schools are indoctrinated towards religious intolerance, as well as hatred towards to the West. This may be the background for her statements.

Concerning Germany's law on compulsory school attendance. I think its a bad law and I know of no other European country where home schooling is not allowed. I do, however, believe that society has the right to require education of children and to set standards for that education.

What should always be remembered, when discussing Germany, is the legacy of Nazism. Germany's post-WWII constitution and laws have been set up to avoid extremism ever arising again, while the political establishment has seen it as its main task to guard the country against extremism. Civil liberties have therefore been limited in ways that would not be tolerated in other western democracies. Nazism is, for example, outlawed, as is distribution of Nazi propaganda and literature. Similarly, individuals who are considered to have extreme views, or belong to groups considered to be dangerous to society, have been and are banned from working in civil service positions. This practice, which mainly has been used to discriminate against Communists and Socialists, has been criticised internationally when it has affected religious groups such as Scientology.

Although Germany's outlawing of home schooling and its treatment of groups with deviant beliefs and convictions sometimes amount to discrimination, its laws must be seen the context of in Germany's history and the political establishments fear of political as well as religious extremism.

Religious freedom is, in my opinion, generally better protected in America than Europe. I can offer three reasons for this: First the 1st Amendment (both the 'free exercise' and 'non-establishment' clauses playing a vital rule). Secondly, the idea that America was founded by individuals fleeing religious persecution is very strong, which makes religious freedom trump every other civil liberty in the US. Thirdly, religious groups have more political power in the US.

Except for France, Europe has no tradition of church and state separation. This has lead, even in recent times, to religious discrimination, in particular in countries where the Catholic faith is very strong, i.e. Ireland, Italy, Spain etc.. Religious freedom is now entrenched in most European national constitutions and in the European Convention of Human Rights, and particularly the Northern European countries have good protection of religious rights. However, it still doesn't not command the same respect as it does in America for the above mentions reasons.