Religious liberty protections should not extend to anti-Zionist beliefs disguised as sincere religious doctrine
Source: Josh Blackman. "What Happens If A Religion Precludes A Person From Supporting Zionism?." February 11, 2026. reason.com
The Gist
The author argues that people shouldn't be able to claim religious freedom protections for anti-Israel beliefs because these beliefs are really just antisemitism dressed up as religion. He thinks real religious beliefs are old and consistent, while anti-Zionist religious claims are new and suspiciously targeted only at Jewish people.
Conclusion
Anti-Zionist beliefs dressed up as religious doctrine should not receive religious liberty protections because they fail the sincerity test and represent political antisemitism masquerading as faith
Premises
- True religious beliefs about marriage and other doctrines have ancient, immemorial origins, while anti-Zionist religious claims appear recently constructed for political purposes
- Anti-Zionist religious claims exhibit suspicious double standards by targeting only Jewish people's right to a homeland while remaining silent about other religious groups' territorial claims
- The Catholic Church's actual doctrine does not oppose Zionism, as evidenced by Vatican II teachings and papal statements recognizing Israel's right to exist
- Hypothetical anti-Zionist religious claims would be so specifically tailored to address contemporary political issues that they resemble 'churches of convenience' rather than genuine faith traditions
- Religious leaders with doctrinal expertise must actively prevent their faiths from being hijacked by antisemitic political movements
Assumptions
- Sincere religious belief requires historical continuity and consistency rather than recent political convenience
- Religious liberty protections should have limits when beliefs are instrumentally constructed for discriminatory purposes
- Anti-Zionism targeting only Jewish territorial claims while ignoring others constitutes antisemitism
- Religious doctrine can be objectively determined by authoritative sources and expert interpretation