Roger Scruton on freedom of religion

Abstract

Philosopher, Roger Scruton, for the Democracy and Moral Conviction Public Lecture Series at Vanderbilt University, discusses freedom of religion from a philosophical aspect. According to Scruton "freedom is gradually slipping down the political agenda with appeasement taking its place." How has the United States arrived at this point when, according to Scruton, the founders of our constitution wanted to separate state from church not to exclude faith from public life. He further states that the no establishment clause today is invoked as an absolute ban of religion within the public arena. When the practice of religious faith is permitted, what is being allowed and what are the conditions necessary to religious freedom?