On April 13, the Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic welcomed Allen Hertzke, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Oklahoma, to discuss his new book, “Why Religious Freedom Matters: Human Rights and Human Flourishing,” published by the University of Notre Dame Press. Hertzke analyzed the role religious freedom plays in shaping societies around the world.
Karrie Koesel, associate professor of political science, and Daniel Philpott, professor of political science, reflected on the book’s contributions and raised questions about its implications.
Hertzke framed religious freedom as a foundational force for human flourishing. “Imagine a social force that underpins democracy, bolsters civil liberty, reduces societal violence, improves women’s status, fosters economic development, and nurtures international peace,” Hertzke said. “Religious freedom is pivotal to the kind of world we want to inhabit.”
At the heart of Hertzke’s book is the idea that religious freedom is inseparable from human dignity. In his lecture, Hertzke emphasized that religious freedom protects “the right to be who you are” and to live according to one’s deepest convictions. Because religion touches on what individuals hold as ultimate, he argued, restrictions on religious expression strike at the core of human personhood.
Hertzke’s book synthesizes a growing body of global social science research made possible by new research measuring the effects of religious restrictions on social outcomes. This research, Hertzke explained, consistently demonstrates that societies with fewer restrictions on religion tend to experience stronger democratic institutions, greater economic growth, and lower levels of violence. And, challenging common assumptions about religion and inequality, Hertzke contended that religious freedom is shown to promote the empowerment of marginalized groups, particularly women and the poor.
He further discussed the relationship between religious restrictions and violence. Citing global studies, Hertzke noted that countries with high levels of religious repression are more likely to experience terrorism and conflict, while those with greater religious freedom tend to be more peaceful. “When you have high restrictions,” he said, “bad things flow. When you have religious freedom, good things flow.”
Hertzke also addressed what he called the “curse of privilege”: the tendency for religion to become distorted when closely aligned with state power. When governments favor particular religious groups, he argued, those groups often lose their independence and moral authority, while minority communities face increased discrimination. “Whenever religion becomes enmeshed with political power,” Hertzke said, “it becomes less democratic and more prone to coercion.”
In her response, Koesel emphasized the global relevance of Hertzke’s work, particularly in light of rising religious restrictions and shifting patterns of belief. “Religious freedom deserves our sustained attention,” she said, noting that it remains under pressure in both authoritarian and democratic contexts.
Philpott highlighted Hertzke’s approach of grounding his argument in social scientific evidence. He described the book as a “profound bridge-building” effort that demonstrates how religious freedom contributes to widely shared social goods.
Their comments prompted Hertzke to address challenges to religious freedom, including the rise of religious nationalism and ongoing debates about whether religious liberty functions primarily as a personal right or a structural restraint on state power. Hertzke acknowledged these tensions, noting that while religious freedom can serve as a safeguard against government overreach, it is not, by itself, a complete solution to the misuse of religion in politics.
Professor John Meiser, faculty director of the Religious Liberty Clinic, moderated the discussion.
“We are privileged to host Allen and to have him share his insights with the broader Notre Dame community,” said Meiser. “His book does great work to highlight what is often overlooked in discussions of religious freedom: the many profound ways that support for this fundamental right benefits us all, collectively, and not just individual believers.”
About the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Clinic
The Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic is a teaching law practice that educates, forms, and prepares Notre Dame law students to become the rising generation of religious liberty leaders by training students in the practice of the law as they defend religious freedom for all people.
Under the guidance of Law School faculty and staff, students work on a broad variety of legal matters to promote religious freedom on behalf of individuals and organizations of all beliefs—both domestically and abroad. The Clinic represents clients from all faith traditions to promote not only the freedom for people to hold religious beliefs but also their fundamental right to express those beliefs and to live according to them. Learn more about the work of the Clinic here.