Christelike gesindheid en ander godsdienste

Abstract

Christian attitude and other religions
This article investigates certain models for the practical implementation of religious freedom. The frame of reference is the idea of the kingdom of God, the calling of Christians to care for all people with the attitude of Christ as a leading example and a biblical view on the task of the government. The following models are evaluated: the active theocratic model; the active state religion model; the active universalist model; the active neutralist model and the active pluralist model. The conclusion is that the first four models do not succeed in maintaining peace between religions and can thus be questioned from a Christian ethical point of view. A choice is made for the fifth model, because only an open display of all religions in the public sphere, without restriction and infringings of the state gives religious peace of mind and creates the space for peaceful co- existense. Examples are proposed for the practical application of this model in a constitutional democracy.