Our point of view: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights describes freedom of faith as a fundamental right. Article 17 states that "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance." We affirm that, but want to go beyond a 'live and let live' mentality and tap into the wealth of benefit that religion can bring to the world today.
 |  | | Our respective religious beliefs cut to the core of who we are, and the fact that they are based in divine inspiration make them particularly challenging when it comes to working together, especially when virtually everyone believes that their religion represents the true faith and all others are false. Because of this, some people see organized religion as the problem. "…nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too…" (Imagine, John Lennon). |
 We don't believe that. We believe that people of faith have much to offer the world - especially if we can learn to work together. Our goal is to create ways that we can work together toward a civil and harmonious society.
That is why no matter where you are in the religious spectrum, whether your community is exclusive or accepting, inclusive or fundamentalist, pluralistic or orthodox, esoteric, syncretistic, universal, or non-theistic, you are welcome. Our only stipulations are:
1. That we hold our points of view with humility, realizing that no one is as right as they would like to think that they are,
2. That we are interested in working collaboratively with other groups in order to better serve our common communities
3. That we understand the difference between our religious laws (which govern our adherents) and societal laws (which govern all of us). Examples of this principle might include:
- A Catholic church that opposes birth control, but supports the rights of non-Catholics to do so,
- Vegetarian Hindus who recognize that non-Hindus have the right to eat beef.
- Moslems who respect and honor non-Moslem women in any and all leadership positions.
- Evangelical Christians who support equal rights and protections for Gay couples - even if their tradition sees such relationships as sin.
- Buddhists who recognize that Falon Gong participants are as worthy of protection under the law as any other religious group.
- Atheists who understand that praying in public is not a crime.
4. That we adhere to the common teachings of the Golden Rule and "Love your Neighbor" - both of which show up in all major religions. We seek to 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'. Respect them, listen to them, honor them, support them, and work with them.
More on this topic from Rod Washington:
Open Letter to Religious Leaders
The Neighbor Imperative
Issues:
Inter-Religious Collaboration
Religion and Gender Issues
Religion and Race/Class/Caste
Religion and Orientation
Religion, Reconciliation, and our Legacy to Society
Inter-Religious Collaboration
Fuller Seminary to Launch Interfaith Ethics Code with Muslims:
Interfaith Center
Religion and Race/Class/Caste
Presbyterians are committing themselves to rooting out racism
Confessions of a Closet Racist
Forgotten Fires film
Christian Identity, Survivalism, and the Posse Comitatus
Religion and Orientation
Religion and Homosexuality - positions of various congregations and religions
Religion, Reconciliation, and our Legacy to Society
Truth and Tolerance in America - Senator Edward Kennedy, delivered by invitation of Jerry Falwell at Liberty College
Carter's Crusade - Addressing the Religious Right
Religions For Peace
Global Ethics
International Fellowship of Reconciliation
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