Religious Freedom

Religious Freedom

Freedom of religion or belief is viewed by the international community as a basic human right, yet its manifestations vary greatly from society to society. These resources examine and debate the contours of religious freedom; the evolution of international religious freedom policy; and the relationship between religious liberty and democracy, politics, and social and economic development.

Our Experts

David Hollenbach

Senior Fellow
Walsh School of Foreign Service and Department of Theology and Religious Studies

Michael Kessler

Executive Director
Department of Government and Georgetown Law

Religious Freedom A-Z Subtopics

Narrow your search for Religious Freedom content by selecting from this list of subtopics

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Blasphemy Subtopic

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D

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G

H

I

L

Law Subtopic

M

Marriage Subtopic

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P

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Reformation Subtopic

Religious Minorities Subtopic

Religious Soft Power Subtopic

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Sacred Texts Subtopic

Secularism and Secularization Subtopic

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Theological Perspectives Subtopic

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U.S. Supreme Court Subtopic

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Vatican Council II Subtopic

Project Spotlight Program

Religious Freedom Project

The Religious Freedom Project (RFP, 2011-2016) at Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs was the nation's only university-based program devoted exclusively to the analysis of religious freedom.

Publications

Report October 17, 2022

Maintaining International Religious Freedom as a Central Tenet of U.S. National Security

This report, co-authored by Senior Research Fellow Peter Mandaville and Knox Thames and published by the United States Institute of Peace, examines the United States' commitment to international religious freedom and the challenges to ensuring that it remains a central tenet of U.S. foreign policy.

Other Publications

Report November 23, 2021

Advancing Global Peace and Security through Religious Engagement: Lessons to Improve U.S. Policy

Lesson Plan February 1, 2021

Religious Freedom and Conscience Exemptions

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Events

Part of the Buddhist Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai province, China.

Apr
3

2023

Religion, State, and Society in China

3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. EDT Berkley Center

Feb
21

2023

Do Religion and Religious Freedom Impede or Enhance Security?

Jan
30

2023

Is Religious Freedom Under Threat in Ukraine?

Nov
21

2022

India and the Rise of Islamophobia

Jun
7

2022

The Second Interreligious Forum of the Americas

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Videos

February 21, 2023

Do Religion and Religious Freedom Impede or Enhance Security? (Video)

Duration: 1 hours 1 minutes

January 30, 2023

Is Religious Freedom Under Threat in Ukraine? (Video)

Duration: 2 hours 5 minutes

November 21, 2022

India and the Rise of Islamophobia (Video)

Duration: 1 hours 0 minutes

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Current and Past Projects

Historical Origins of Religious Freedom

An adequate understanding of the contemporary significance of religious freedom requires a grasp of its history and institutionalization over time. While the idea of religious freedom grows out of the Classical and Judeo-Christian traditions, it…

Under Caesar's Sword

In collaboration with the Center for Civil and Human Rights at the University of Notre Dame, the Religious Freedom Research Project has engaged in a three-year global research project that investigated how Christian communities respond when their religious freedom is severely violated.

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