How did freedom of religion get defined as freedom from religion?

Answer 1

Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the right of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Genuine freedom of religion also includes the freedom to change one's religion or belief, and the right not to hold any religious beliefs. In 1993, the UN's human rights committee stated that "the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief necessarily entails the freedom to choose a religion or belief, including the right to replace one's current religion or belief with another or to adopt atheistic views."

Merely holding different religious beliefs, or none at all, is probably not at the heart of this question. Some strongly hold the view that, while non-Christians may be exempt from Christian worship, they ought to be subject to rules defined by Christianity or by those who claim to represent Christianity. At the extreme, some Christians seek to prevent legal abortions because they believe that abortions are contrary to the will of God. This implicitly places God over people who do not believe in his existence, contrary to the right of freedom of religion.

As stated by the United Nations human rights committee, freedom of religion includes, but is of course not limited to, freedom from religion. What now becomes apparent is that some religious people still believe that religious beliefs and norms should determine the actions of those who do not practise any religion.