The Secular State and Freedom of Religious Expression in Brazil

Abstract

This article aims to study the secular State and freedom of religious expression in Brazil from the perspective of the constitutional protection of these institutes, for the purpose of illuminating the legal concepts and the various features of the Brazilian secular State, as well as leading a reflection on several concepts that have been misinterpreted by society, such as: freedom of religious expression, proselytism, the use of politically correct language and hate speech, which negatively and directly interfere with these fundamental rights. The article also examines the cluster of freedoms of both belief and religion, whether in their private, collective, or institutional dimension, whose essential core must be protected because it is a natural right. These concepts are examined and related to concrete cases, leading to the conclusion that special attention must be given to such principles if they are to be preserved.