Speaking Up for Faith
Last week, I spent a couple of days in London on business, attending a book launch, and I also spent some time with a new friend, Celine Brown.
Celine is interning with the Freedom of Religion or Belief Foundation (FoRB), which acts as the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the same topic in Westminster.
Just before Christmas, I joined FoRB as a trustee and have been finding out about projects all around the world where the basic human right of Freedom of Religion or Belief is being challenged, restricted, or actively defended.
Freedom of Religion or Belief is a fundamental human right that protects the conscience of all individuals.
It allows us to think, express, and act upon our deeply held beliefs, whether in private or public settings.
This freedom encompasses the right to change one’s religion or belief and to manifest it through teaching, practice, worship, and observance.
However, globally, this right faces numerous challenges, including governmental restrictions, societal pressures, and acts of intolerance.
International Religious Freedom Summit
A few of my FoRB colleagues attended the International Religious Freedom Summit held in Washington, D.C. this week, where Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphasised the importance of compassion in religious freedom advocacy.
He stated, “Protecting religious freedom is a key to peace and stability around the world.”
Elder Soares highlighted that fostering understanding and respect among diverse religious communities is essential for building peaceful societies.
My personal commitment to FoRB stems from a heartfelt belief in the inherent dignity of every individual and the conviction that freedom of belief is essential for human flourishing.
In Galatians 5:13, the Apostle Paul said: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”
This scripture highlights the principle that our freedoms are not just for personal benefit but are opportunities to serve and uplift others.
In my role as a trustee, I am dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote religious freedom, understanding, and mutual respect among all people.
By doing so, we can contribute to a more just and harmonious world where everyone’s right to believe, or not to believe, is upheld.
How can you and me, in our daily lives, promote a culture of respect and understanding for religious freedom in our communities and our workplaces?