Tools for faith communities

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Picture: two Indonesian women smiling.Picture: two Indonesian women smiling.

Freedom of religion or belief has implications both for the internal life of faith communities and their relations with others. And theology has implications for freedom of religion or belief.

Here you’ll find links to tools for theological reflection as well as codes of conduct and guidelines of particular use to faith communities. Some have a practical focus, some enable members to reflect on the issues from a theological perspective, while others are designed for a more academic audience.

Don’t forget – many of the resources on other pages of our website are relevant for faith communities too!

Codes of conduct and guidelines of particular relevance to faith communities

Illustration: Universal code of conducts on holy sites.Illustration: Universal code of conducts on holy sites.

Universal code of conduct on holy sites

The Universal Code of Conduct on Holy Sites is a tool to help faith leaders mitigate interreligious conflict and build peace.

Handbook: Plan of action for religious leaders and actors.Handbook: Plan of action for religious leaders and actors.

Plan of action for religious leaders and actors to prevent incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes

The outcome of a series of regional consultations with religious actors this plan of action includes 9 sets of recommendations to help religious leaders and actors prevent atrocities and strenghten resilience through building skills and networks.

Missionary Activities and Human Rights: Recommended Ground Rules for Missionary Activities

Seeking to contribute to reducing conflict related to missionary activities, this document can aid faith communities in developing codes of conduct.

Illustration: frontpage: Christian Witness in a multi-religious World.Illustration: frontpage: Christian Witness in a multi-religious World.

Christian witness in a multi-religious world

Recommendations for conduct from the World Council of Churches, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the World Evangelical Alliance.

Illustration: frontpage with a picture of a mountain: Faith for rights.Illustration: frontpage with a picture of a mountain: Faith for rights.

The UN Faith for Rights Framework

The “Faith for Rights” framework including 18 commitments to faith for rights (with a particular focus on FORB) and a toolkit to help faith communities reflect on those commitments.

Theological resources to help faith communities reflect on FORB

Digital course: Christian Theology and FoRB

This on demand e-course explores Christian theological arguments for FORB as a human right for all. It has been developed in response to church history, the role of church today, and to an identified need to strengthen and encourage Christian theological reflection on FORB.

Illustration: handbook frontpage Justice through EqualityIllustration: handbook frontpage Justice through Equality

Justice through equality

Building Religious Knowledge for Legal Reform in Muslim Family Laws

Illustration: Handbook guide for Freedom of religion or belief biblical insights.Illustration: Handbook guide for Freedom of religion or belief biblical insights.

Freedom of religion or belief – A guide to biblical insights

Intended to foster Christian growth in understanding of FoRB and to help Christians learn why it is necessary to put this freedom into practice.

Illustration: Frontpage for religion without compulsion.Illustration: Frontpage for religion without compulsion.

Religion without compulsion

Knowledge to challenge blasphemy and apostacy laws. Intended for policy-makers, stakeholders (for example religious actors) and advocates.

Illustration: frontpage for Theological Approaches to Human Rights.Illustration: frontpage for Theological Approaches to Human Rights.

The Christian and Persecution: Theological approaches to Human Rights

Available in English and Arabic, this study guide provides a helpful basis for Christian groups before looking at FORB and theology in particular.

Buddhism and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts

Historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Buddhist traditions. For more academic audiences.

Christianity and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts

Historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Christian traditions. For more academic audiences.

Hinduism and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts

Historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Hindu traditions. For more academic audiences.

Islam and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts

Historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Islamic traditions. For more academic audiences.

Judaism and Religious Freedom: A Sourcebook of Scriptural, Theological, and Legal Texts

Historical and contemporary approaches to religious freedom in Jewish traditions. For more academic audiences.

Network: The FORB Leadership Network

The FORB Leadership Network (FoRBLN) is a network of parliamentarians and belief leaders from 4 countries across Africa (The Gambia and Sierra Leone) and South Asia (Bangladesh and Pakistan) who are dedicated to promoting freedom of religion or belief in their national and local communities. FoRBLN exists to address the legislative barriers to freedom of religion or belief and the social mores that support societal hostility towards groups and individuals on account of their religion or belief.

Learn more

Explore the FORB library for a range of thematic resources!

The FORB Library

Raise awareness on FORB in your faith community

Discover resources to help

Share your theological resources on FORB through the FORB Learning Platform

Does your faith community have resources for theological reflection on FORB that could help others?
Empower others by sharing your resources here!

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