Should freedom of Speech extend to Religion?

I think freedom of speech, is the most important thing in any democracy, and it is something that most people in the Western World take for granted. One thing that frightens me most of all about many religions, is the fact that people are not allowed to question the tenets of their faith - it tries to make people into little robots afraid to think or speak for themselves, and that us dangerous in my opinion. The only time I think there should be any sort of exception, is if someone is spreading seditious treason in a country at time of war, this undermining the people and those away fighting.

What it really comes down to is an issue of rights as alantae touched on. Most countries who've adopted the UN's universal human rights likely prosecute such violations in the same manner I would assume. The way it works in Canada and the US though is a matter of whos right violates the others. If your right to freedom of speech infringes upon someones right to freedom of religion, then you're the one in the wrong. Your human rights only extend so far as not to infringe on anothers human rights. So one does not have to make exceptions in the law, as violating someone elses rights is a crime itself.

There can be no restriction to freedom as it goes against the very definition of the word 'free'. If we start giving exceptions they start growing and affect the very notion of it's root.

I think if some people are allowed to spew their hatred due to freedom of speech than someone who thinks they can make a difference by giving people thier version of God should be allowed. I don't want to hear it, from either side, but freedoms are freedoms.

I believe the freedom of speech is one of the fundamental rights of a human being. We should be able to have our own opinions and state them if we feel so inclined to do so. But there are limitations. If what you're saying is causing harm to someone else, then I feel as though the government has the right to censor what you say. Seditious things should be controlled. But I'm not really sure what you mean by your original question about freedom of speech being extended to religion. We also have the freedom of religion, which is its own seperate entity. Care to explain more?

In my country religion plays a major role in most people's life's.Also here religion has kept it's form for a long period of time,and thats what makes it so taboo and mystical.I believe that freedom of speech should play an important role not only in religion but in all the aspects of our life.Because of the suppression of freedom of speech uncountable number of people had to suffer in the Middle Ages .Such an example is Galileo who's head was cut off because he claimed the Earth was round...and what an irony it actually was.The one who tries to inhibit freedom of speech clearly tries to manipulate other people or tries to hide something from them

Hmmmm, that's a hard one. I'm a little torn by my instinct for freedom of speech and reverence. Ok, I think I want to say that freedom of speech is a legal matter and blasphemy an ethical one. Not a fully worked out answer I know but I think it could be given some thought all the best urban

I believe in freedom of speech, but I can also see the point to not allowing hate speech, not just about religion but about anything. It's like following up on bomb threats. You can't ignore bomb threats because of "freedom of speech", so you can't ignore hate speech because it often leads to violence. For example, I want to be able to talk about my religion without fear. I want others to be able to do so as well. I want different faiths to be able to have a free and open dialogue. That can't happen if there is no freedom of speech. However, it also can't happen hate speech is allowed. *shrugs* It's hard to know where to draw the line. I don't think freedom of speech covers being able to be completely psycho about everything. However, I don't think it should be a crime to say anything bad about any other religion, especially if it's being said in a reasonably calm manner. It's when people start acting totally unhinged that I think the law has to step in, for fear violence will follow.

Why not? As long as only opinions and real facts are stated, then it's ok.

I think as human beings we have the right to question all things and ask for proof. Maybe some people want to believe that Religion has all the answers and they never question it, but there maybe some people that need to question these foundations and why they have maintained such a hold over people in the world. There is nothing wrong with these questions in my mind because the questions force us to ask more questions, and more on top of that, some of these we will find the answer to while we are here and others we will have to wait and see.

No freedom of speech shud not extend to religion.It wiil ccreate many diffrences among differnt people of religion following it.It shud not b eallowed becaus eit is really dangerous fr the contry as wellas the societyyyyyyyThis hsud not be ignored bcoz it is in sake for the whole nation.