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Full-Text Articles in Public Law and Legal Theory
Lest Law Forget: Locke's Toleration And Religious Freedom, Stephen Holt
Lest Law Forget: Locke's Toleration And Religious Freedom, Stephen Holt
LLM Theses
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees every person in Canada freedom of conscience and religion. I contend that the concept of religious freedom was born out of a history of religious suffering and originally took the form of John Locke’s toleration of religious differences. In Big M, the first Supreme Court of Canada case that interpreted s. 2(a), Chief Justice Dickson recognized the historical context of religious freedom but also tied it to human autonomy, equality, and dignity. An examination of the cases since Big M suggests that when courts think in terms of tolerance, they accord greater …
Religious Discourse In The Public Square, David Blaikie, Diana Ginn
Religious Discourse In The Public Square, David Blaikie, Diana Ginn
Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press
Full, open, and civilized discourse among citizens is fundamental to the life of a liberal democracy. It seems trite to assert that no discourse should be prohibited or excluded simply because it is grounded in religious faith or employs religious beliefs to justify a particular position. Yet there are those who contend that it is improper for citizens to use religious arguments when debating or deciding issues in the public square, that metaphorical arena where issues of public policy are discussed and contested. In this article we challenge this position, examining the various arguments that are put forward for keeping …