Abstract
The article provides a philosophical and legal analysis of freedom of religion as one of the fundamental subjective human rights, which has a natural, inalienable, and system-forming character within the structure of constitutional rights and freedoms. Theoretical approaches to understanding freedom of religion as a legal opportunity for an individual to independently determine their attitude toward religion, faith, worldview beliefs, and the forms of their external expression are examined. It is substantiated that freedom of religion is directly connected with a person’s inner world, conscience, spiritual needs, the right to self-determination, and the protection of human dignity. Special attention is paid to the distinction between the internal sphere of freedom of belief and the external forms of religious manifestation. It has been established that forum internum covers the inner spiritual sphere of an individual, including the right to have, adopt, change, or reject religious beliefs, and has an absolute nature that excludes any state interference. In contrast, forum externum is related to the external manifestation of faith through worship, religious rites, missionary activity, religious education, and the establishment of religious organizations, and therefore may be subject to legitimate restrictions provided that the principles of legality, proportionality, and non-discrimination are observed. The structural and substantive content of freedom of religion has been analyzed, including the right to profess any religion or none, to change religious affiliation, to receive religious and secular education, to raise children according to one’s own beliefs, to participate in collective religious life, as well as the right to alternative (non-military) service based on reasons of conscience. It is proven that freedom of religion has both positive and negative dimensions, ensuring not only the right to profess religion but also the right to refuse any religion. The mechanism of legal protection of freedom of religion has also been examined separately, the basis of which consists of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations,” international legal acts, and the practice of the European Court of Human Rights. It has been established that the effectiveness of the implementation of this right depends on the state’s ability to ensure a balance between the spiritual autonomy of the individual, the principle of ideological neutrality, and the need to protect public order, public health, morality, and the rights of others. It is concluded that the level of guaranteeing freedom of religion is an important indicator of the democratic nature of the state, and the improvement of legal regulation in this area should be carried out in accordance with European standards of human rights protection.
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