It is a rude feeling, because it is natural only to people standing on the lowest level of morality, and expecting from other nations such outrages as they themselves are ready to inflict.
Leo TolstoyRead
No citizen enjoys genuine freedom of religious conviction until the state is indifferent to every form of religious outlook from Atheism to Zoroastrianism.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True religious freedom requires the state to remain neutral towards all belief systems.
Harold Laski's quote emphasizes the essential principle that for individuals to truly enjoy freedom of religious conviction, the government must adopt a position of indifference towards all religious beliefs, including atheism and various theistic traditions. This neutrality ensures that no particular religion is favored or discriminated against, thus allowing all citizens to freely express their beliefs without fear of state interference or favoritism.
Themes
FreedomReligionStateIndifferenceBeliefs
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on religious tolerance, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of government neutrality.
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