The Invisible Center: Christian Liberalism in American Religious Freedom Jurisprudence.

This article critically examines the concept of liberal state neutrality in adjudicating religious freedom claims, arguing that Christianity is a foundational yet often invisible element within liberalism, particularly in the American context. It introduces the concept of "Christian liberalism" to describe how liberal states simultaneously present themselves as secular while privileging Christian expressions, as seen in contradictory U.S. Supreme Court rulings on Establishment and Free Exercise Clause cases. The article highlights how Christian cultural norms shape legal interpretations, including the use of "ceremonial deism" to justify religious language like "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, and how the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) has enabled Christian conservative legal advocates, such as the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), to claim religious persecution and seek exemptions from antidiscrimination laws. While focused on the U.S., the concept of Christian liberalism is proposed as a useful analytical tool for understanding religious freedom and secularism in other liberal democracies.