ABSTRACT
Liberal democracies subscribe, in varying degrees, to liberalism. This chapter argues that liberal democracies in general reflect a distinctive philosophy or worldview. It also argues that New Zealand law and government in particular evinces a similar worldview—'Wellington worldview'. While the government can maintain a position of neutrality among liberal religions, liberalism itself necessitates that the government must disfavor and discriminate against illiberal religions. Privatization of religion is achieved through a careful drawing of the boundary between public and private life. A religious reason can still be proffered but it must be accompanied by an adequate 'secular' or 'public' reason for the advocacy. The liberal overlooks or exaggerates the rationality of science and underestimates the rationality or reasonableness of religion. There is a voluminous and sophisticated debate among political philosophers on the propriety of religious argument and justification in public debate.
