Our Constitution sets out the rights to which all citizens are entitled. It also sets out the rules for living together harmoniously. People who live or work in Apeldoorn explain what this law means in their daily lives. This time: Yvette Seegers, a pastoral care worker at Gelre Hospitals, on Article 6.
Constitution, Article 6 | Freedom of religion and belief
“People can only flourish if they are free to think for themselves”
‘In the Netherlands, everyone is free to choose their religion or philosophy of life’
“For many people, a hospital stay is a time when life comes to a standstill. Especially if it lasts longer – or turns out differently – than expected. All those impressions, the flood of information, the emotions at play: it really takes its toll on you. As a spiritual counsellor, I’m there to lend a listening ear to patients. With me, they can sort through their thoughts, let off steam or simply talk about what’s on their minds.”
“People’s freedom to think what they want is essential to my work. People need to feel they have the space to share their own stories. In my conversations with them, we often discuss sensitive questions. Why is this happening to me? What is the point of this suffering? Questions like these touch on the meaning of life: how does what is happening to me fit into my life story and my outlook on life?”
“I am convinced that freedom of belief and thought is essential for us to flourish. There must be room for your values and beliefs – and room to change them. Because you’re never really finished. You can continue to develop right up until the moment you die. There is always an opportunity to grow, even in the face of illness. I think that is the hope I carry with me as a spiritual counsellor.”
“In our society, people are sometimes afraid of other people’s beliefs. The key to my work, however, is to be curious about other people’s perspectives. It is precisely when someone thinks or believes very differently from me that I want to get to know and understand them better. Time and again, I find that this helps you see people in a more nuanced way. If you seek to connect, you can truly enrich each other’s lives.”