{"id":1835,"date":"2025-03-10T16:49:14","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T21:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/coalitionforfaithandmedia\/?p=1835"},"modified":"2025-03-10T16:49:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T21:49:14","slug":"the-risk-of-making-religious-freedom-a-dei-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/coalitionforfaithandmedia\/2025\/03\/the-risk-of-making-religious-freedom-a-dei-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"The Risk of Making Religious Freedom a DEI Issue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"three
This idea\u2014that faith should stand on its own, free from government control\u2014goes back to our Founding Fathers. | Image rendered in Meta Ai for Patheos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The Risk of Making Religious Freedom a DEI Issue<\/span><\/h2>\n

As an executive at a large company, I struggled to feel at home. I couldn\u2019t quite understand why until I took a personality test. I\u2019ll never forget when the HR manager looked at my results, paused, and asked, \u201cDid you grow up in a Southern religious home?\u201d I was surprised\u2014there hadn\u2019t been any questions about religion, or so I thought. I said yes, and she walked me through my answers\u2014inclusiveness, empathy, and a preference for talking things through rather than confrontation. None of it was right or wrong, just different.<\/p>\n

Contrasting Workplace Cultures<\/span><\/h2>\n

That\u2019s when I started noticing the contrasts. At our northern headquarters, conversations leaned cosmopolitan\u2014fine dining and the latest cultural events. Success came with a high-energy, work-<\/p>\n

\"A
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) prohibits federal agencies from discriminating against employees or applicants for employment because of their religious beliefs in hiring, firing, and other terms and conditions of employment. This version of the New Testament bible was issued in 1941 and contained a message from President Franklin Roosevelt \u201ccommending the reading of the bible to who serve \u2026as a fountain of strength and \u2026 an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of the human soul.\u201d | Image courtesy of Alex Lindeman<\/a>, CC BY 2.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

hard-play-hard mentality. At our southern facilities, people talked more about family, faith, and community\u2014not as declarations but as part of life.<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t wired for excess or the thrill of the next big event. I value meaningful, personal relationships over grand gestures. Neither approach was better, but it explained why I felt more at home in one place than another.<\/p>\n

Is Religious Freedom a DEI Issue?<\/span><\/h2>\n

That\u2019s why the recent debate about religion in DEI efforts caught my attention. Some thought leaders have expressed concern about the impact on religious tolerance if DEI programs are reduced. But I question whether religious freedom is a DEI issue.<\/p>\n

Freedom of religion in the US isn\u2019t about diversity. It\u2019s a fundamental right of being American, reflected in the diverse cultures of our federated system.<\/p>\n

A Founding Principle, Not a Program<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Benjamin Franklin | Image courtesy of Joseph-Siffred Duplessis<\/a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This idea\u2014that faith should stand on its own, free from government control\u2014goes back to our Founding Fathers. While serving as Ambassador to France, Benjamin Franklin corresponded with Richard Price<\/a>, a Welsh philosopher and Unitarian minister, about religion\u2019s role in society. Franklin made the following observation: if a belief is strong, it will sustain itself. However, if it needs government support to survive, that says more about the religion than the government. His words reflect a core American belief: religious freedom isn\u2019t granted by institutions\u2014it\u2019s an inherent right that must be protected, not managed.<\/p>\n

What This Means for the Workplace<\/span><\/h2>\n

That belief carries into the workplace today. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from religious discrimination and requires reasonable accommodations<\/a>, like flexible schedules for religious observances, religious attire exceptions, or private spaces for prayer\u2014unless they create an undue hardship for the employer. Public employees also have First Amendment protections<\/a>. Employers must respect religious expression but can set limits if it disrupts work.<\/p>\n

Balancing Inclusion Without Overcorrection<\/span><\/h2>\n

That\u2019s the legal side. But what about the cultural side? How do businesses foster religious inclusion without overcorrecting or alienating anyone? One step is to clear HR policies that provide guardrails\u2014understanding what\u2019s considered reasonable religious accommodation and what\u2019s not. Another is recognizing that religious culture shapes how people work and communicate, just like my experience with regional differences.<\/p>\n

For companies with a large immigrant workforce, working with community groups can help new employees integrate\u2014not just into the job but into a culture that values freedom. We saw this when churches stepped up to support Afghan refugees. They didn\u2019t just facilitate employment and personal support; they embraced a Muslim\u2019s right to worship and build community.<\/p>\n

The Risk of Treating Religious Freedom as Just Another DEI Topic<\/span><\/h2>\n

That\u2019s why treating religious freedom as another diversity issue is risky. If framed as a DEI topic instead of a constitutional right, it becomes easier to downplay, redefine, or cancel when priorities shift. Our Constitution requires us to respect all beliefs without favoring or sidelining any.<\/p>\n

Religious freedom is about making space for everyone without forcing anything on anyone. That\u2019s what sets America apart. It ensures that whether someone feels more at home in New York or Texas, their beliefs and how those beliefs shape who they are are respected\u2014not just tolerated.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Risk of Making Religious Freedom a DEI Issue As an executive at a large company, I struggled to feel at home. I couldn\u2019t quite understand why until I took a personality test. I\u2019ll never forget when the HR manager looked at my results, paused, and asked, \u201cDid you grow up in a Southern religious […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5695,"featured_media":1865,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[80,68,77],"class_list":["post-1835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faith-and-inclusion-after-dei-medias-role-in-religious-representation","tag-dei","tag-politics","tag-religious-freedom"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Risk of Making Religious Freedom a DEI Issue<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is religious freedom a DEI issue\u2014or something deeper? 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