The value “freedom of religion” is a specific case of personal sovereignty. It is a person’s freedom to choose a particular religion to follow, believe in it, and act according to their faith. It also includes the freedom to convert to another religion, as well as to be free from religion altogether.
This value stands in opposition to religious coercion, which is a type coercion based on religious reasoning. For example, the Inquisition investigated and punished Christians who were suspected of deviating from catholic orthodoxy. Freedom of religion is also opposed to irreligious coercion, which prohibits people from acting according to their religious faith and from printing religious books. An example of this was the anti-religious legislation in the Soviet Union.
Like all forms of coercion, both religious and anti-religious coercion lead to negative consequences: fundamental harm to personal sovereignty, as well as conflicts and cruelty. The solution, of course, is mutual respect for each person’s personal sovereignty—“live and let live”.
Sometimes, a religious zealot believes that if someone else does not act according to a certain religious faith, this will bring disaster (e.g. the “wrath of God”) not only upon the other person but also upon the zealot himself. This belief can be the motivation that leads the zealots to support religious coercion on others. From their perspective, it is justified for the believers to impose their customs and beliefs upon others by any means, including violence.
However, one must remember: The believer’s conviction is only their own belief, while others do not share it. Even if the believers are absolutely convinced that they are in the right, there are others who follow a different religious faith (or no religious faith) who are just as convinced that they are right and that the first believers are wrong. The only way we can live together in the same society without endless conflict and violence is by respecting other people’s personal sovereignty and not forcing our beliefs upon them. It is possible to speak kindly and try to persuade, without coercion. In any case, coercion will not benefit the believer, because it will provoke opposition and resentment against them, as no one likes being coerced.