Free to believe (extra credit)

Not far from our campus, there is church I usually go to, the St. Nicholas Cathedral. It is also a seat of Metropolitan of All America, Archbishop Jonah (the head of Orthodox church in the US and Canada). Today he was talking about Human Rights and Religious Freedom Reception at the US Capitol he attended last week. The main topic was about the short documentary movie “Apostle of Love, Hope and Reconciliation” about Patriarch Bartholomew and process of getting religious freedom, but it made me think why states, who do not have “official” religion pay that much attention on different religious group.

The Reception followed the Conference of bishops. And everything would fine, but at the end bishops urged the government and the US Congress to protect religious freedom in the world.

It is not a secret that NATO and the USA seek to play the main role in the world, making decisions on military strikes against those countries that are not pleasing to Washington. The deaths of thousands of people in Yugoslavia, Libya and Iraq, the suffering of billions are not taking in account Criminal prosecution in some countries of follower of some exotic doctrine, the specific crime accident can cause more indignations in the US that bombings of local terrorists. This is despite the fact that in the United States about 98% of citizens consider themselves as religious people, for whom compassion and kindness should be on the first place and protect rights of freedom of conscience in foreign policy. Thus, in November 1998, Congress passed an International Religious Freedom Act and President Clinton said during signing that protection of religious freedom abroad is a central element of US foreign policy

The idea of protecting religious freedom is closely linked to the cultural and philosophical tradition of the United States, which considers American history as unique. This idea is also an important component of the modern "civil religion" of the US, bringing together a multi-faith American society and created a higher legitimacy of public institutions in the country. The ideas of its own election and exceptional views of Americans are akin to the people of Israel (the Bible) about the chosen people. As Jews, Americans are deeply religious, but religion is oriented to the more earthly ideal, is closely linked to solving social and political problems.

For Americans, the truth is more important to implement in real life than in the word. If the Fathers of the Church of paramount importance attached to the development of theology, against heresies, the Founding Fathers of the United States initially laid the foundations of confessional pluralism. American society and the state were built under religious banners, but the ideals of Christianity are understood differently. The most important religious principle asserts the political and civil freedom, which were demanded by the settlers.

American democracy is tolerant to any ideological attitudes, the basis of its foundations - the freedom to choose any ideological orientations. It is no accident that in the U.S. Christianity has become a "market" in which all the sects tend to offer their products and profitably sell it to any buyer.

Assuming that the United States is center of the universe, a model for imitation it has left its stamp on foreign policy ideology and practice of the United States. On the one hand, the idea of the "American mission" explaining that America acted as the bearer of humane, cosmopolitan, democratic values, and her role was supposed to be a moral example for the rest of the world. On the other - the concept of "American exceptionalism" became the basis for active intervention in the course of world events. In this perspective, “missianism” often gets the militaristic coloration. The brightest example - the U.S. military operation with other NATO in Yugoslavia.

The doctrine of "American exceptionalism" and "global missianism" is a source of creative inspiration for legislators and policy makers because it allows US to find new arguments to justify the interference in the internal affairs of other countries, where there are armed conflicts on ethnic and religious grounds, and provides new reason to suggest American model of society and the state-church relations. One example of this - 40 bills that were considered during the 105th session of Congress were connected to issues of religious freedom, persecution for religious beliefs and relations with the countries where, according to the U.S. Administration, violated the principles of freedom of religion. Thus, during the discussion of the draft of the law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations" in 1997 the United States has adopted five bills relating to Russia to China - 24 bills, Hong Kong – 4, Turkey – 2, Germany - 1, Indonesia - 1, Cuba - 1. The main reason for so bright a negative reaction was that the law significantly limited the field of foreign missionaries, and it did not suit the "democratic" United States. In essence, they rallied to the defense of freedom of conscience not only of citizens of the different countries, but their interests.

In justifying the requirement of termination of financial aid to Russia from the United States in connection with the adoption of the Law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations", M. McConnell, Senator said: "We should use it (foreign aid) to promote American values and American interests”. Statement by the President of the United States at the time of signing "the International Religious Freedom," that "religious freedom - the central element of U.S. foreign policy" runs counter to the international instruments, is an attempt to assume the role of a magistrate who is authorized to "punish or pardon ".


Thus, the concept of a "mission" and "American exceptionalism" not only became the ideological sources of the act "On International Religious Freedom," but also found it practical expression, despite the fact that the U.S. has no national law on freedom of religion. International Religious Freedom Act is a convenient cover, which allows the U.S. to "oblige for all mankind", expanding its sphere of influence by giving itself the right to intervene in the internal affairs of sovereign states

However, the act shows that the religious factor in the state and nature of the interaction of religion and society, state power, nations, played a prominent role in politics.

Works Cited
International Religious Freedom Act 1998. Full text
"Authorizing Legislation & Amendments: International Religious Freedom Act of United States Commision on International Religious Freedom
"Bishops urge Congress, Obama to give higher priority to religious freedom." Catholic Worls News
Chang, Patricia M. Y. "A Foreign Policy for Foreign Religions." Foreign Policy In Focus 11 October 2007.
Orthodox Church in America. .
State, US Department of. "Diplomacy in Action. Religious Freedom."
Tomassini, Jason. "Catholic bishops say religious freedom waning." Reuters 14 November 2011.