Responsible Proselytism: An Inter-religious Statement
by the International Religious Liberty Association
Conference of Experts
With increasing globalization and growing inter-religious
and ideo- logical strife, a constructive relationship among religions
has become imperative. To deal with these issues, the International Religious
Liberty Association convened meetings and conferences of experts in the
United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain in 1999 and early 2000. The
conference included representatives from Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic,
and Protestant), Islam, and Judaism, and it adopted the following statement
on specific points of agreement.
Preamble
Freedom of religion or belief is a basic human right.
Despite the strong support given to this universal right during the past
fifty years by the various international instruments, beginning with the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, and including the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, the Declaration on the
Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on
Religion or Belief of 1981, and the Declaration on the Rights of Persons
Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities of
1992, widespread violations of this right continue to occur and are to
be deplored.
Freedom of religion or belief includes the right to
manifest and communicate one’s faith or belief to others. Religions
have differing beliefs about how they should disseminate their convictions.
The question of “proselytizing” or making converts inevitably
affects inter-religious relations. The term “proselytism”
has various meanings and connotations. To avoid ambiguity, hereafter this
document does not use it.
Accepting the increasing reality of religious pluralism
and with the aim of strengthening religious liberty, tolerance, dialogue,
and respect for equal rights for all, the Conference of Experts suggests
the following guiding principles regarding the responsible dissemination
of religion or belief. These principles have primarily an ethical character
and provide criteria to guide individuals and communities in their relations
with each other. They also have relevance for relations between religious
communities and states. These principles are based on the dignity of the
human person and the person’s freedom to follow the voice of conscience.
The conference participants are convinced that the
observance of the following guiding principles is invaluable in enhancing
a culture of peace, social cohesion, personal and collective responsibility,
and the upholding of equal rights for all.
The conference participants hope that all individuals
and religious communities will look at these principles in the light of
their own beliefs and practices, and make them their own, thus being fully
committed to the divine mandate or high ideals in which they believe.
Principles
- To teach, manifest, and disseminate one’s religion or belief
is an established human right. Everyone has the right to attempt to
convince others of the truth of one’s belief Everyone has the
right to adopt or change religion or belief without coercion and according
to the dictates of conscience.
- Aware of their common responsibilities, religious communities should
build relationships through contacts and conversations, manifesting
convictions with humility, respect, and honesty. Dialogue should replace
confrontation. In witnessing to others or in planning missionary activity,
the inviolable dignity of the addressed persons requires consideration
of their history, convictions, way of life, and cultural expressions.
- Religion, faith, or belief is best disseminated when the witness
of a person’s life is coherent with the message announced, and
leads to free acceptance by those to whom it is addressed.
- In disseminating faith or beliefs, one should be truthful and fair
towards other religions and beliefs. This requires comparing the ideals
of one’s own community with the ideals of other communities, and
not with the alleged failures of others.
- In the dissemination of religion or beliefs, both the rights of majority
and minority should be protected in accordance with international human
rights instruments which condemn all forms of discrimination and intolerance.
- In referring to other religious and belief communities, respectful
and non-offensive terminology should be used.
- Social and humanitarian activities should not be linked to the dissemination
of faith or beliefs in a way that exploits the poor and vulnerable members
of society by offering financial or other material incentives with the
intent to induce people to keep or change their religion or belief.
- While the right to hold and manifest religious beliefs and convictions
is recognized, inter-religious strife, hatred, and antagonistic religious
competition are to be avoided and replaced by dialogue in truth and
mutual respect.
- No one should knowingly make false statements regarding any aspect
of other religions, nor denigrate or ridicule their beliefs, practices,
or origins. Objective information about these religions is always to
be desired in order to avoid the spreading of ill-founded judgments
and sweeping prejudices.
- Dissemination of religious faith or belief should respect the addressed
person’s freedom to choose or reject a religion or belief without
physical or psychological coercion, and should not force that person
to break the natural ties with family, which is the foundational component
of society.
- Using political or economic power or facilitating its spread under
the guise of disseminating religious faith or belief is improper and
should be rejected.
- Responsible dissemination of religious faith or belief should accept
that it may invigorate the faith of the persons or groups addressed,
or lead to a free and unfettered choice to change one’s religious
affiliation.
- Bearing in mind their responsibilities for the common good of society,
religious communities should, where feasible and in harmony with their
convictions, join in efforts aimed at improving justice and welfare,
and peace among peoples and nations.
- Where conflicts arise with respect to dissemination of religion or
belief, the relevant communities should consider entering into a process
of conciliation.
International Religious Liberty Association Conference
of Experts Adopted by consensus.
January 29, 2000 Las Navas del Marqués, Spain
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