Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

3-2025

Abstract

In pluralist democracies where legal and constitutional rights to freedom of conscience and religion exist, one can too readily-and sometimes, misguidedly - conclude that faith-based arguments, or arguments made by those who are religiously motivated, have little or no place in lawmaking. For example, it maybe thought that free and equal citizens have been accorded the freedom (not) to profess and practice a religion. Given the ubiquity of law and its impact on all, including those without a religion, if the religious were to shape the law from religious perspectives, freedom of others may be negatively impacted or rendered nugatory as laws were justifiable by contentious moral values thought to be affirmed only by those with religious beliefs.Some well-meaning and sincere Christians, especially when it pertains to what is commonly classified as "culture war" issues relating to abortion or LGBTQ+ rights, take the view that there is no good reason for government to interfere in the private lives of citizens through restrictive laws that enforce moral norms that may not be affirmed by other free and equal citizens. They suggest the role for inculcating moral values in the next generation is to be undertaken by parents and the local church. Anecdotally, I have seen this view taken by some whom I have encountered in multi-religious, pluralist, democratic Singapore. In this article, I explicate how such a view is problematic. First, it is an abdication of Christian witness and responsibility. Second, it is unrealistic because of the way law shapes the moral ecology of society, with consequences on the chances people have of cultivating virtues, developing character, and living good lives. Third, it concedes unnecessarily to the problematic political liberalism propounded by John Rawls. In the concluding section, I expound on a biblical account that I suggest foreshadows the options that political liberals, unfortunately, tend to present to Christians. I conclude with a suggestion of what we can learn from that account about the challenge we face and the posture we can adopt.

Keywords

Religion, law and religion, multi-religions

Discipline

Religion Law

Research Areas

Legal Theory, Ethics and Legal Education

Publication

Journal of Christian Legal Thought

Volume

15

Issue

1

First Page

1

Last Page

8

Publisher

Christian Legal Society

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