Preface
Human rights are fundamental freedoms and protections due to all human persons without exception. Human rights are rooted in human nature and human dignity and in the transcendent source of both. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right, the denial of which in any society constitutes a grave violation.
“What in the World is Religious Freedom?” by Thomas Farr, November 1, 2019, outlines RFI's basic vision of religious freedom.
“Religious freedom is important for everyone, everywhere. Why? Because religion is important for everyone, everywhere. Human beings are innately religious. Our nature impels us to seek answers to profound questions about ultimate things. If we are not free to pursue those answers, and to live according to the truths we discover, we cannot live a fully human life.
“Religious freedom is therefore the right of all persons to believe, speak, and act – individually and in community with others, in private and in public – in accord with their understanding of ultimate truth.”
“What in the World is Religious Freedom?” by Thomas Farr, November 1, 2019, outlines RFI's basic vision of religious freedom.
“Religious freedom is important for everyone, everywhere. Why? Because religion is important for everyone, everywhere. Human beings are innately religious. Our nature impels us to seek answers to profound questions about ultimate things. If we are not free to pursue those answers, and to live according to the truths we discover, we cannot live a fully human life.
“Religious freedom is therefore the right of all persons to believe, speak, and act – individually and in community with others, in private and in public – in accord with their understanding of ultimate truth.”
Publications
![Featured image for “Celebrating America’s Independence and First Freedom”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SparklerAmericanFlag-scaled.jpg)
Celebrating America’s Independence and First Freedom
July 4, 2024
![Featured image for “Religious Freedom Deserves a Right of Its Own”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Philpott-Article.jpg)
Religious Freedom Deserves a Right of Its Own
March 12, 2024
![Featured image for “RFI President Eric Patterson: Some Arguments for Religious Freedom Are a Poison Pill”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Graphic_A-poison-pill-for-religious-liberty.png)
RFI President Eric Patterson: Some Arguments for Religious Freedom Are a Poison Pill
February 1, 2024
![Featured image for “RFI’s Nathan Berkeley Talks Threats to Religious Freedom in America with My Faith Votes”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/NB-on-MFV-TV.png)
RFI’s Nathan Berkeley Talks Threats to Religious Freedom in America with My Faith Votes
January 11, 2024
![Featured image for “Confucianism and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UDHR-Adoption-Ceremony.png)
Confucianism and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
December 8, 2023
![Featured image for “The Unfulfilled Promise of the International Religious Freedom Act”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IRFA-RealClearPolitics_Farr.png)
The Unfulfilled Promise of the International Religious Freedom Act
October 27, 2023
![Featured image for “RFI President Eric Patterson: The Treasure of Religious Freedom”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IRFA-Commemoration-in-WORLD.png)
RFI President Eric Patterson: The Treasure of Religious Freedom
October 27, 2023
![Featured image for “RFI’s Nathaniel Hurd and Andrew Kubick Interviewed on Religious Freedom’s Deepest Questions”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/WCAT-Interview.png)
RFI’s Nathaniel Hurd and Andrew Kubick Interviewed on Religious Freedom’s Deepest Questions
September 21, 2023
![Featured image for “RFI President: Our First Freedom is In the Crosshairs”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IRF-Summit-Charter-Article-World.png)
RFI President: Our First Freedom is In the Crosshairs
May 5, 2023
![Featured image for “Celebrating World Press Freedom Day, And Religious Freedom”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/World-Press-Freedom-Day.png)
Celebrating World Press Freedom Day, And Religious Freedom
May 3, 2023
![Featured image for “RFI President Eric Patterson: “Choosing Freedom Instead of Totalitarianism””](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/WorldMagHumanRightsEP.png)
RFI President Eric Patterson: “Choosing Freedom Instead of Totalitarianism”
March 31, 2023
![Featured image for “Toward a Stable and Inclusive Iraq? Individual and Institutional Religious Freedom Can Help”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/monasterynearmosul.png)
Toward a Stable and Inclusive Iraq? Individual and Institutional Religious Freedom Can Help
April 22, 2022
![Featured image for “FORIS Working Group Report | Why People Need Religious Institutions and Why Religious Institutions Need Freedom”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Subgroup1WorkingGroupReportCover-1.png)
FORIS Working Group Report | Why People Need Religious Institutions and Why Religious Institutions Need Freedom
October 20, 2021
![Featured image for “FORIS Working Group Report | Institutional Religious Freedom and the Common Good: Significance, Challenges, and Policy Implications”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CoverPage-Subgroup3GeneralReport-1.png)
FORIS Working Group Report | Institutional Religious Freedom and the Common Good: Significance, Challenges, and Policy Implications
September 15, 2021
![Featured image for “Western Societies Need Proactive Policies to Protect Institutional Religious Freedom”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/foris.jpg)
Western Societies Need Proactive Policies to Protect Institutional Religious Freedom
September 10, 2021
![Featured image for “FORIS Policy Report | Western Societies Need Proactive Policies to Protect Institutional Religious Freedom”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Cover_FORIS3_WesternSocieties.png)
FORIS Policy Report | Western Societies Need Proactive Policies to Protect Institutional Religious Freedom
September 9, 2021
![Featured image for “America’s International Religious Freedom Policy Must Account for Competing Local Definitions of Religion and the Common Good”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot_2021-05-272BFORIS2BREPORTS-FINAL.png)
America’s International Religious Freedom Policy Must Account for Competing Local Definitions of Religion and the Common Good
August 27, 2021
![Featured image for “Religious Freedom: Why Now? Defending an Embattled Human Right”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RFWhyNow_CompleteText.png)
Religious Freedom: Why Now? Defending an Embattled Human Right
May 13, 2020
![Featured image for “Reaffirming Human Dignity and Its Relationship to Religious Freedom”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/img.jpg)
Reaffirming Human Dignity and Its Relationship to Religious Freedom
November 26, 2019
Blog Posts
![Featured image for “Pope Benedict XVI: A Witness to Religious Freedom”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/vatican-obit-benedict-xvi-highlights-06366-e1672761592142.jpg)
Pope Benedict XVI: A Witness to Religious Freedom
January 3, 2023
![Featured image for “Fighting Religious Persecution”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-26-at-3.53.46-PM.png)
Fighting Religious Persecution
August 26, 2022
![Featured image for “Putting Religious Freedom Back on the Map”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Screen-Shot-2022-07-22-at-11.50.13-AM.png)
Putting Religious Freedom Back on the Map
July 22, 2022
![Featured image for “Today’s Fight for Religious Freedom”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/TomFarr-2.jpg)
Today’s Fight for Religious Freedom
July 8, 2022
![Featured image for “Clash of the Acronyms? Finding The Right FoRBula in the Fight for Religious Freedom”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/unsplash-image-7dEyTJ7-8os.jpg)
Clash of the Acronyms? Finding The Right FoRBula in the Fight for Religious Freedom
June 17, 2022
![Featured image for “How Liz Truss Can Champion Religious Freedom at U.K. Ministerial Conference”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LizzTrussNewsweek.png)
How Liz Truss Can Champion Religious Freedom at U.K. Ministerial Conference
May 27, 2022
![Featured image for “The Travail of International Religious Freedom, and of U.S. Leadership”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CountriesofParticularConcern.png)
The Travail of International Religious Freedom, and of U.S. Leadership
March 25, 2022
![Featured image for “On Human Rights Day: Working for Religious Freedom for Everyone, Everywhere”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IraqiRefugees.jpg)
On Human Rights Day: Working for Religious Freedom for Everyone, Everywhere
December 10, 2020
![Featured image for “The World Needs Clarity on Human Rights”](https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pompeo.jpg)
The World Needs Clarity on Human Rights
August 7, 2020
Cornerstone Forum
Press Releases
Speaking Engagements
Videos