Abstract

Subject to Debate

This article focuses on Freedom From Religious Persecution Act, which would call down economic and non-economic sanctions on foreign countries that oppress believers. Its original backers are most concerned with the plight of Christians in China-imprisonment, beatings, torture-but since the United States is not actually a Christian nation, despite the best efforts of Pat Robertson and friends, any bill that passes will have to apply equally to all religions in all countries. If the religious persecution bill becomes law, Israel, the biggest recipient of U.S. foreign aid and for arcane theological reasons a country dear to the hearts of Christian fundamentalists, will be on its own. Even Western Europe might have trouble measuring up to the Freedom From Religious Persecution Act.