56%
Confidence
Belief overview
Freedom of conscience
Each person must be able to believe, not believe, doubt, and change conviction.
2
Supportive
0
Contrary
0
Neutral
What it is: Secular humanism defends freedom of conscience as a basic right.
How the position understands it: People must be able to adhere or not to religions, revise their beliefs, disagree, and live without illegitimate state or community doctrinal coercion.
Basis and context: The principle is central in human rights, democratic secularism, and modern pluralism.
Debates and variations: The divergence is usually less in the principle and more in the limits between individual freedom, public discourse, and protection against discrimination.
Documentary evidence
Supportive
Amsterdam Declaration 2002
An important international declaration of contemporary humanism.
Reference: Amsterdam Declaration 2002.
Content: The declaration defines humanism as an ethical, democratic, and non-theistic response to shared human life.
Use in debate: It is an important synthesis for pluralism, freedom of conscience, and human responsibility.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 18
The legal basis for freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
Reference: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 18.
Content: The text protects freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the right to change one's convictions.
Use in debate: It is central for freedom of conscience and pluralism.