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Philosophy Talk: Do religions deserve special status?

"Religion billboard" by Dave & Anna Douglass used under cc license

What special status, if any, should religion have in the eyes of the law? 

In most Western democracies, religions are exempt from certain rules and regulations that most other organizations have to follow. For example, in the US, religious organizations are not required to pay taxes or follow non-discrimination employment laws. Some faithful go so far as to argue that their religious freedom means they shouldn’t have to provide birth control to their employees. But does religion truly deserve this preferential treatment? Should the demands for legal exemption based on religious freedom be treated any differently than those based on moral conscience? John and Ken grant guest status to Brian Leiter from the University of Chicago, author of Why Tolerate Religion? Sunday 9/11 at 10 am and Tuesday 9/13 at 12 noon.