Religion and the Human Rights Movement

Is there a schism between the human rights movement and religious communities? The list of contentious issues is growing: on issues such as reproductive rights, gay marriage, the fight against HIV/AIDS, and blasphemy laws, human rights activists and religious groups often find themselves on opposing sides.

The essay warns: "on the one hand, rights activists should more aggressively stand up for religious freedom and the rights of believers in secular and religious societies alike; on the other, (...) human rights groups should oppose efforts in the name of religion to impose a moral view on others when there is no harm to third parties and the only “offence” is in the mind of the person who feels that the other is acting immorally."