The Last Taboo: Ideology, Identity, and the Public Critique of Religion

Religion’s influence in America has recently been bolstered by both new laws and Supreme Court rulings favoring religious citizens and institutions. Simultaneously, religion is insulated by social norms that reject criticism of religion as antireligious prejudice. Responding to these trends, I argue that morally responsible criticism of religion is not only possible but a necessary dimension of public discourse that must be differentiated from antireligious prejudice. This is achieved by distinguishing between religion’s functions as ideology and identity. Religions shape identities in ways resembling race or ethnicity, and criticism of religion in this mode constitutes discrimination. However, religions also entail ideology – doctrines, values, and principles that effect broader society – and these are entirely appropriate for public critique. Morally defensible criticism of religion targets its ideological dimension, while antireligious discrimination targets religion as an identity.