For theological and ethical reflection
CC0 Creative Commons
Commercial use permitted, no attribution required
Here you'll find links to a small but growing collection of resources for reflection and study. Some are produced by faith and belief communities to help members and leaders reflect on how the human right to freedom of religion or belief relates to theology and ethics. Other resources come from academic sources and are designed for students, theologians and other academics.
If your community or organisation has relevant resources that could contribute to the learning platform or would like to develop such resources, please get in touch!
If your community or organisation has relevant resources that could contribute to the learning platform or would like to develop such resources, please get in touch!
Codes of Conduct
Universal Code of Conduct for Holy Sites
Useful for both officials and faith communities, this is a practical code of conduct and policy for sacred places across the globe. Its main purposes are the preservation of holy sites for present and future generations, the safety of believers, and the promotion of interreligious cooperation. Available in many languages, the code was developed by the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, One World in Dialogue, Religions for Peace and Search for Common Ground, and is endorsed by thousands of religious leaders.
Useful for both officials and faith communities, this is a practical code of conduct and policy for sacred places across the globe. Its main purposes are the preservation of holy sites for present and future generations, the safety of believers, and the promotion of interreligious cooperation. Available in many languages, the code was developed by the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, One World in Dialogue, Religions for Peace and Search for Common Ground, and is endorsed by thousands of religious leaders.
Missionary Activities and Human Rights: Recommended Ground Rules for Missionary Activities
Published by the Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief, this document was developed through inter-religious and academic dialogue, and is a helpful basis for creating individual codes of conduct for religious/belief communities.
Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct
Guidelines produced jointly by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID), the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA).
Published by the Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief, this document was developed through inter-religious and academic dialogue, and is a helpful basis for creating individual codes of conduct for religious/belief communities.
Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct
Guidelines produced jointly by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID), the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA).
Buddhism
Buddhism and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts
Published by the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University, this sourcebook presents primary documents surveying historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Buddhism. These documents, spanning the fifth century BCE to the present, include scriptural texts, philosophical texts, legal texts, and political texts. An introduction and commentary by professor Thomas Borchert contextualizes the formative, classical/civilizational, local/cultural, and modern periods of Buddhist history.
Published by the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University, this sourcebook presents primary documents surveying historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Buddhism. These documents, spanning the fifth century BCE to the present, include scriptural texts, philosophical texts, legal texts, and political texts. An introduction and commentary by professor Thomas Borchert contextualizes the formative, classical/civilizational, local/cultural, and modern periods of Buddhist history.
Christianity
NEW! Freedom of Religion or Belief - a guide to biblical insights
Published by the World Council of Churches, this guide is intended to foster Christian growth in understanding of the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and to help Christians learn why it is necessary to put this freedom into practice. The guide is designed for reflection and exploration, alone or with others. The three sections offer information and reflection, followed by questions for exploration and suggested actions. Each section can also be used as an independent unit. The guide can be used with other components of the FoRB Learning Platform.
Theological Approaches to Human Rights
Available in English and Arabic, this study guide to Christian theology and human rights provides a helpful basis for Christian groups before looking at FORB and theology in particular. The guide focuses on the theological underpinnings of human rights, countering Christian objections to human rights and the imperatives of justice and love. It is one module of a wider course on 'The Christian and Persecution' published by Middle East Concern.
Christianity and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts
Published by the Religious Freedom Project in partnership with the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University, this sourcebook presents primary documents surveying historical and contemporary Christian approaches to religious freedom. These documents, spanning the seventh century to the present, include scriptural texts, official religious texts, theological and philosophical texts, and legal and political texts.
Published by the World Council of Churches, this guide is intended to foster Christian growth in understanding of the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and to help Christians learn why it is necessary to put this freedom into practice. The guide is designed for reflection and exploration, alone or with others. The three sections offer information and reflection, followed by questions for exploration and suggested actions. Each section can also be used as an independent unit. The guide can be used with other components of the FoRB Learning Platform.
Theological Approaches to Human Rights
Available in English and Arabic, this study guide to Christian theology and human rights provides a helpful basis for Christian groups before looking at FORB and theology in particular. The guide focuses on the theological underpinnings of human rights, countering Christian objections to human rights and the imperatives of justice and love. It is one module of a wider course on 'The Christian and Persecution' published by Middle East Concern.
Christianity and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts
Published by the Religious Freedom Project in partnership with the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University, this sourcebook presents primary documents surveying historical and contemporary Christian approaches to religious freedom. These documents, spanning the seventh century to the present, include scriptural texts, official religious texts, theological and philosophical texts, and legal and political texts.
Hinduism
Hinduism and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts
Published by the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University, this sourcebook presents primary documents surveying historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Hinduism. These documents, spanning the fifteenth century BCE to the present, include scriptural texts, philosophical texts, legal texts, and political texts. An introduction by Berkley Center post-doctoral fellow Sara Singha and commentary by Anuttama Dasa of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness serve to contextualize the ancient, medieval, and modern periods of Hindu history.
Published by the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University, this sourcebook presents primary documents surveying historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Hinduism. These documents, spanning the fifteenth century BCE to the present, include scriptural texts, philosophical texts, legal texts, and political texts. An introduction by Berkley Center post-doctoral fellow Sara Singha and commentary by Anuttama Dasa of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness serve to contextualize the ancient, medieval, and modern periods of Hindu history.
Islam
Islam and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts
Published by the Religious Freedom Project with the aid of the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University, this sourcebook presents primary documents surveying historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Islam. These documents, spanning the seventh century to the present, include Qur'anic texts, official religious texts, philosophical texts, and legal and political texts.
Published by the Religious Freedom Project with the aid of the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University, this sourcebook presents primary documents surveying historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Islam. These documents, spanning the seventh century to the present, include Qur'anic texts, official religious texts, philosophical texts, and legal and political texts.
Judaism
Judaism and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts
Published by the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University in partnership with the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University, this sourcebook lists both historical and contemporary primary documents that explain Jewish understanding of religious freedom. These documents span from the biblical to the modern period, and they include scriptural texts; theological and philosophical texts; official religious texts; and legal and political texts.
Published by the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University in partnership with the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University, this sourcebook lists both historical and contemporary primary documents that explain Jewish understanding of religious freedom. These documents span from the biblical to the modern period, and they include scriptural texts; theological and philosophical texts; official religious texts; and legal and political texts.