Though protected by the 1st Amendment, just how much religious freedom will Americans tolerate? A recent article posted at “Religion Dispatches” reflects on the current controversy of plans for a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City.
Is Religious Freedom a Casualty at Ground Zero?
While religious pluralism was a founding ideal of the United States implicit in the 1st Amendment’s guarantee of religious freedom, Americans historically have edged toward it kicking and screaming.
By Kambiz Ghaneabassiri in “Religion Dispatches”
New York City’s Landmark Preservation Commission’s unanimous decision on August 3, 2010, to allow plans for the construction of a mosque and community center near Ground Zero to move forward has been hailed by some as a victory for religious freedom, but it has also provided more fodder for latent anti-Muslim sentiments that have surfaced nationally since plans for the project were made public. Regardless of how one views the decision, the controversy surrounding the project is a reminder of the fact that while religious pluralism was a founding ideal of the United States implicit in the 1st Amendment’s guarantee of religious freedom, Americans historically have edged toward it kicking and screaming.