Shaping Religion: Assessing ‘Transformative Liberalism’

Citizens within liberal societies hold a variety of religious beliefs. Some of these views appear to conflict with liberal values. Some theorists have argued that the state ought to seek to transform such views. For example, Corey Brettschneider argues that the state should engage in non-coercive ‘democratic persuasion’, by speaking out against views that conflict with free and equal citizenship, and refusing to fund or subsidise groups that hold such views. This paper critically assesses ‘transformative liberalism’, and Brettschneider’s theory in particular. I present three initial criticisms. First, the policies Brettschneider advocates might well be coercive, despite his claims to the contrary. Second, some of Brettschneider’s justifications for democratic persuasion fail. Third, transformative liberalism requires the state to make complex and contestable judgments concerning the compatibility of religious beliefs and practices with free and equal citizenship. This involves the state in a kind of theological adjudication for which it is ill-equipped, and will inevitably give rise to inconsistencies. This prepares the ground for my main objection. Brettschneider vacillates between a thin and thick conception of free and equal citizenship. The choice between these conceptions significantly affects transformative liberalism’s implications. If the thick conception is adopted then moral beliefs associated with certain conservative religions will be deemed liable for democratic persuasion. This might well imply that individuals who hold these views cannot be public employees such as public school teachers, and that many religious organisations and churches will lose their tax-exempt status and be unable to provide state-funded services. The state would thus place significant pressure upon religious individuals and groups, in ways that will alienate many. In light of this, the transformative view should be accepted only if a thin conception of free and equal citizenship is adopted. Adopting this thin conception also reduces the force of my earlier objections.