Freedom of religion is a common issue in liberal democracy. How does religious liberty equate inside the framework of Australian Republicanism?

Australia is not a particularly religious nation [PDF] . In Sydney 'no religion' is the third largest faith behind Catholicism and Anglican. Adelaide is Australia's least religious major city with no religion accounting for 21.4% of those polled and religion inadequately described being another 12.4%.

As a consequence, those with non-denominational religious beliefs are a significant minority.

Globalisation has had many effects in the allocation of capital, the movement of labour and the the transferral of goods and services. It has also had an effect in unifying political movements.

The United States has bucked the trend for major industrial nations in becoming less and less religious as they have become more prosperous. As a result the religious conservative movement in America is a well organised and well funded.

With globalisation their message reaches many empathic ears in Australia and is often absorbed as political issues or platforms by Australian Conservatives.

When Australia was a closed, protected and isolated nation-state the power of an international conservative movement did not have the political strength in Australia. Any religious movement had to be home-grown and face a significant non-religious minority in the polls and elections.

Globalisation has changed this dynamic. Issues are no longer as local as they used to be, and domestic public opinion can be swayed internationally through powerful groups that are well-funded and well-organised.

That is not to claim that a worldwide religious conservative movement is repugnant, rather to point out that a well funded and organized super-minority can skew issues and politics with global reach under globalisation.

For this reason, liberty needs double assurity of protection and entrenchment, especially liberty of religion.

Religion and Republicanism

The highest form of social organisation that is obtainable in this day and age is Liberal Democracy, and as a consequence is a principle of Australian Republicanism. That may change in the future, but for now remains true.

Theocracy is an inferior form of social organisation which entrenches tyranny and social/political privilege. It is not compatible with Australian Republicanism.

Central to liberal democracy is secularism where executive, legislative and judicial decisions are made under common law with deference to individual liberty, the individual as the discrete and dominant political entity and the principle of empiricism.

This requires that religion cannot be entrenched in any of those arms of government. Religion cannot be carried by the coercion of those arms, lest liberal democracy become theocracy and the republic a tyranny.

Republicanism is predicated on the protection of minority rights from the tyranny of the majority, while balancing representation sufficiently to ensure the minority will accept majority rule.

Given that faith follows from individual conscience, religion is a highly pluralist system. From Theism, to Atheism, to Deism, to Monotheism, to Polytheism.

Sects are also highly diverse in Australia. Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists, Buddhists, Muslims, Presbyterian, Orthodox and so forth.

If the state chooses a single religion to encourage, enforce or entrench then it fails as a republic as it is coercing the minority and enabling tyranny of the majority. This is by definition not a republican system.

While there are many sects and religions in Australia, if there was one uniform thought on religion would the state be able to entrench religion? The answer is again no. It only takes one person to differ from the majority and it becomes tyranny from the majority.

As this purity of religion is not achievable, due to individuals being, well individual, and of independent thought, it becomes true that the state cannot use coercion or entrenchment for any religion.

Religion and Conscience

The individual is the dominant discrete political unit in Australian Republicanism, not the nation-state or state. Liberty becomes the guiding political philosophy under such a principle.

Religious faith and belief are a very individual process, and the religious bonds between man and God very private and sacrosanct.

Individuals find great comfort, strength and guidance in their personal relationship with god. They also create strong communal and social bonds with others of the same faith.

To break, suppress or deny this personal relationship between individual and god, through coercion or entrenchment of a religion or religious belief system, is tyranny. This is not compatible under a republican form of government.

Conclusion

The only place religion has in an Australian Republic is one of maximum liberty. Freedom of religion must be an absolute.

Religious liberty must be protected from a tyrannous government system, the tyranny of a powerful minority and tyranny of the majority.

The only logical conclusion is for freedom of religion to be entrenched in the Australian Constitution; ensuring that it remains an area of personal freedom that government cannot trespass into.

More Reading on Australian republicanism

• Australian Republicanism
• Religion
• Liberty
• Theocracy
• Torture Is Incompatible With Republicanism
• Three Cheers For Liberty; The Republican Riots of 1887
• Australian Republicanism: A Reader
• Rosen on Fukuyama
• Australian Republicanism And Future Democratic Forms
• The Strength of The Republican Cause
• Australian Republicanism and Religious Liberty
• The Discrete Political Entity
• Political Equity
• Freedom of Political Speech and the Constitution