Some American Christians have been whining a lot about their religious freedom. Supposedly their religious freedom is being hampered because they are not free to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Of course, they are completely free to think what they like about gays and lesbians; but because we live in a "civil" society, they must conform to how we are expected to treat gays and lesbians. Comparable issues arise with birth control and abortion.
Our Constitution provides the freedom to practice the religion of one's choice (or, for that matter, the freedom to practice no religion at all). So the real question at the bottom of all this is what actually constitutes "practice." It seems to me that practicing a religion means having certain beliefs and, perhaps, taking part in organized groups who share those beliefs. Many people would also suggest that sharing one's beliefs with others or even helping others to understand similar beliefs is part of practice. In my opinion, that can become a bit "edgy;" people who want to share their beliefs at my front door are really violating my privacy.
The problem with religious practice is that some groups seem to think that they should be allowed to treat others in our society consistent with their special beliefs instead of treating them within the norms of civil society. This, of course, amounts to a demand that their beliefs trump (excuse the pun) all the rest. That really means that others should not have the same freedom of religious belief.
The irony is that Christians are not at all ready to allow other religious groups to behave according to their own private beliefs in our society --- especially not Muslims. Freedom of religion depends upon being in a free civil society; but that means that many behaviors, especially toward other people, are controlled by the rules of that society and not by private religious beliefs.
