First, as the title
of a key chapter puts it, the American example shows that religion can «Make Use
of Democratic Instincts» in a manner mutually beneficial to itself and democracy; second, sustainable democracy needs religion, which means we can expect democratic peoples to remain attached to its continuance or at least potentially receptive to its revival (cf. II, 2.17, # s 17 - 20); third, democratic times, because they are enlightened times, tend to be ones of increasing doubts about religion; fourth, the relevant religion for America and Europe, Christianity, will be tugged against and perhaps eroded by powerful and ongoing democratic currents toward liberationist and materialist mores; and fifth, religion's authority in democratic society will always rest upon commo
Democratic Instincts» in a manner mutually beneficial to itself and democracy; second, sustainable democracy needs religion, which means we can expect
democratic peoples to remain attached to its continuance or at least potentially receptive to its revival (cf. II, 2.17, # s 17 - 20); third, democratic times, because they are enlightened times, tend to be ones of increasing doubts about religion; fourth, the relevant religion for America and Europe, Christianity, will be tugged against and perhaps eroded by powerful and ongoing democratic currents toward liberationist and materialist mores; and fifth, religion's authority in democratic society will always rest upon commo
democratic peoples to remain attached to its continuance or at least potentially receptive to its revival (cf. II, 2.17, # s 17 - 20); third,
democratic times, because they are enlightened times, tend to be ones of increasing doubts about religion; fourth, the relevant religion for America and Europe, Christianity, will be tugged against and perhaps eroded by powerful and ongoing democratic currents toward liberationist and materialist mores; and fifth, religion's authority in democratic society will always rest upon commo
democratic times, because they are enlightened times, tend to be ones
of increasing doubts about religion; fourth, the relevant religion for America and Europe, Christianity, will be tugged against and perhaps eroded by powerful and ongoing
democratic currents toward liberationist and materialist mores; and fifth, religion's authority in democratic society will always rest upon commo
democratic currents toward liberationist and materialist mores; and fifth, religion's authority in
democratic society will always rest upon commo
democratic society will always rest upon common
opinion.
This definition has been developed through case law into a multi-point test which states that the «belief» must be more than a mere viewpoint or
opinion; it must attain a certain level
of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance and it must be worthy
of respect in a
democratic society and not be incompatible with human dignity and / or conflict with the fundamental rights
of others.