Religious Groups Must Look Past Religious Freedom

Harking back to the origins of our ideas of religious freedom in 16th-century England, and surveying the political conflicts relating to religion in 21st-century America, Yuval Levin urges religious traditionalists to broaden their horizons as they set their agenda for public life. Social conservatives, he argues, have much to learn from Jewish traditionalists, who understand that “civil law doesn’t have to reflect every one of their moral convictions as long as it leaves them the room to have a meaningful community life.” At the same time, Jews must learn from conservative Christians that the outcome of today’s political fights over marriage, family life, and other matters will ultimately affect them as well. (Interview by Eric Cohen. Audio, 42 minutes.)