Tolerance is a worthy value. But as Stanford law professor Michael McConnell explained in a Yale Law Journal article, government’s role is to protect the “full and free” exercise of religion while not making theological judgments. “Toleration presupposes a ”˜dominant group’ with a particular opinion about religion (that it is ”˜false,’ or at least ”˜unwarranted’), who decide not to ”˜eradicate’ beliefs they regard as ”˜wrong, mistaken, or undesirable.’ ”
Like courts in most free countries, the US Supreme Court has been careful not to pass judgment on any religion. And in each case, it tries to carefully navigate boundaries between religious expression and public needs. Such cool and calm consideration is a badly needed balm for the kind of fiery violence over religion in much of the world.