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Faith Under Fire: Left Intolerance and Right Exploitation

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, January 14th 2026 at 17:08 GMT by The Center Square

The Left's Intolerance and the Right's Exploitation

The attacks on religious liberty are multifaceted. On the left, a growing societal intolerance for traditional religious viewpoints has created a climate where faith-based organizations find themselves under increasing legal and public scrutiny. Institutions that hold conservative theological views on subjects like gender identity, sexual orientation, and marriage are frequently targeted with lawsuits and public campaigns demanding they compromise their deeply held beliefs. This pressure often manifests as challenges to tax-exempt status, accreditation, or even the ability to operate freely.

Simultaneously, on the right, we see a disturbing trend of religious freedom being weaponized. Certain factions are exploiting the concept to justify discriminatory practices and advance explicitly partisan agendas. These efforts often involve attempts to legislate religious beliefs into law, effectively imposing those beliefs on individuals and communities who do not share them. This 'religious freedom' agenda often seeks exemptions from laws designed to protect vulnerable populations, cloaking prejudice in the guise of piety.

A Zero-Sum Fallacy

The prevalent mistake shared by both extremes is the assumption that religious liberty is a zero-sum game - that protecting the beliefs of one group necessarily diminishes the freedoms of another. This is a dangerous fallacy. True religious liberty demands that we champion the right of all individuals and organizations to practice their faith freely, regardless of whether we agree with their beliefs. Weakening the protections afforded to one group ultimately erodes the protections for everyone. Imagine a world where your religious expression became subject to the approval of a majority; the prospect is chilling.

Beyond the Polarization: Reclaiming the Ideal

Recovering the original intent and meaning of religious liberty requires a deliberate effort to move beyond the current political polarization. This means resisting the reflexive impulse to weaponize faith for political gain and acknowledging the legitimate concerns of those who feel their religious views are being marginalized. It demands a return to the principle of mutual respect and a commitment to engaging in thoughtful dialogue, even - and especially - when disagreements are profound.

Furthermore, it necessitates a re-evaluation of the role of religious organizations in public life. While faith-based institutions are essential contributors to society, providing vital services like education, healthcare, and charitable assistance, they must also operate within the boundaries of the law and respect the rights of others. The line between protected religious exercise and discriminatory practice is often blurred, and navigating this terrain requires careful consideration and a commitment to fairness.

The Future of American Pluralism

The preservation of religious liberty is inextricably linked to the health of American democracy. A society that cannot tolerate diverse viewpoints and protect the right to practice those viewpoints freely is a society on a path to tyranny. Renewing our commitment to this core principle requires vigilance, courage, and a willingness to bridge ideological divides. It demands that we resist the temptation to sacrifice religious freedom on the altar of political expediency and embrace the understanding that the freedom to believe - and to believe differently - strengthens us all.