In a world ensnared by turmoil and storms of global conflict, the unraveling thread of religious freedom accentuates our critical mission to fiercely protect the fundamental rights of religion, belief, and conscience.
Serving as a pastor for over 20 years and seeking ways to engage in the public square, I quickly found the significance of freedom of conscience, belief, and religion.
We live in diverse communities. When you leave your church, synagogue, or mosque, you find yourself in this more complex community, the public square, engaging with people of diverse backgrounds. Our world’s challenge is engaging in a way that represents your faith background but does not impose against others or compromise what you believe.
I have learned that this world is much bigger than just my faith, traditions, or beliefs. When I began traveling internationally, one of my first experiences was in India. I met with people from many religious backgrounds, not to debate or convert others to my beliefs but to listen. That experience opened the door for me to be engaged in addressing some of the pressing issues around our world today.
Our world is in turmoil, and there is a vital need to protect the human right of every individual’s freedom of religion, belief, and conscience. No matter our background, shared principles and values resonate in us that can address the social issues impacting our communities.
People of faith have joined me to meet with North Korean defectors, family members of tortured and imprisoned Chinese Uyghurs, and survivors of attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria. We listened to each of them as they shared pictures and talked about the horrors of living without these fundamental freedoms, and their stories will shake you to your core. This is a tragedy happening every day in our world.
I am passionate about the multifaith approach the Global Peace Foundation uses because it is through our shared values that we unite at the peacebuilding table. As people of faith, we cannot just pick and choose what we like about our religion and institute that, and then, all of a sudden, allow bigotry or prejudices to close our eyes to the core values that our holy tenets represent. Despite our different backgrounds, I’ve sat with leaders of various faiths and beliefs, and there is this common thread that every life matters and peace is necessary. It is through these First Principles that unite us, which is really important.
We each have a voice and a role to play.
Our work in this Freedom of Conscience, Belief, and Religion space is making an impact, planting one seed at a time. With every seed that is nurtured, a strong tree grows. Many branches with flowers will blossom on that tree, and new seeds will be created to repeat the process as we work on growing a global community of peacebuilders.
Sometimes, the work may seem tedious, but for every individual life we can speak to, inform, and empower, this work will multiply tremendously as many more lives are changed.
I hope you will join me in protecting the freedom of conscience, belief, and religion. Your donation means we can plant more seeds in 2024, bringing awareness to religious persecution, bridging communities divided by faith backgrounds, and raising leaders who embody the values we share across all faith traditions.
 Please support us by making your generous tax-deductible donation today: give.globalpeace.org.
Select “Freedom of Religion and Conscience” to support our global family and preserve this most basic human right for all people, everywhere, all the time.
May God continue to bless you and your families during this holiday season.
Warmly,
Bishop Dr. Paul Murray
International Vice-President, Religious Freedom InitiativesÂ
Global Peace Foundation
