The reasons for this are simple. First, as an American constitutional lawyer, I believe the absolute freedom of religion. I do not like the admixture of government and religion in any degree. Second, I have lived in places where that freedom does not exist. In all the places I have lived in Hong Kong and Taiwan, these Chinese cities are filled with religion. You can hear the worship of the Buddhists and smell the incense at the temple. You can hear the singing of the Christians. And everywhere you can get copies of their books of scripture and printed information about their beliefs. Thus, freedom of the press and freedom of speech go hand-in-hand with freedom of religion. Where these things are missing, a city seems hollow and empty.
Each of us may have a different view of religion, God, truth, salvation,
and righteousness. But one thing we should all uphold for each other
is the right and privilege of worhshiping how, where, whom, or what we
wish--or of not worshiping at all.
I'm glad I have lived to see the advent of the Internet and the World Wide Web. These are powerful tools for the exchange of religious ideas and discussion. And the best part is that no one can really control the Internet. It may prove to be the most valuable tool yet invented for the protection of religious freedom.
These issues transcend the arguments people have over the various tenets
of their individual doctrines and articles of faith. This is about
the freedom to have such arguments in the first place!