IARF Online Conference

IARF/ International Association for Religious Freedom, Online Conference
Theme: Does religion set you free?
As the International Association for Religious Freedom, our mission is to advocate for freedom of religion and belief, to educate the public about its origins, legal grounding and significance for contemporary societies in cooperation with other organisations, governments and international bodies to stand up for those whose rights are violated. However, we do not serve an abstract idea or a legal principle. We are not competing with other organisations and activists to strengthen religious freedom at the expense of other rights, such as freedom of expression, the prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment or the right to self-determination of every individual. In fact, the ultimate concern that we share with all people of good will is the human being, whose dignity, in accordance with foundational documents of the democratic order, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, we believe to be inherent and inviolable. All rights and freedoms stem from this primary belief. Accordingly, religion and religious freedom that we strive to protect must ultimately serve the human being in their free pursuit of happiness and personal growth. If this is not the case, we cannot support it. It is a difficult task to weigh one human right against another. But it is a task not only for our courts and tribunals that adjudicate on conflicts arising within our legal systems; it is also the task of the free conscience of every human being, and in this context especially those of us who consider themselves religious people.
The questions
At the conference we will look closer at many different aspects of the relationship of religion and freedom – in the past and the present. What was the emancipating influence of religious thought and practice? In what ways have we failed ourselves and our neighbours by creating or reinforcing different forms of enslavement? How can we better serve the cause of freedom as religious people?

The content
There will be lectures, workshops, circle groups, devotions and social events to help us learn from each other, challenge each other and motivate each other to working for the benefit of our neighbours. Please come if a particular topic from the programme interests you or if you would like to share your thoughts or experiences.

The Conference is open to everyone. It is not a purely academic event, your presence and contribution will be appreciated regardless of your background. Has religion been a liberating factor in your life? Or have you been struggling to break free of the constraints you felt it imposed on you? We’re looking forward to telling our stories and listening to yours!