The International Association for Religious Freedom | Site-Wide Activity

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted a new event

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:19:38 +0200

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted a new event

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:19:38 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: In a world that profits from pitting us against each other, […]

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:18:25 +0200

In a world that profits from pitting us against each other, real strength looks like this: choosing solidarity over suspicion, even — especially — when someone doesn’t look like you, pray like you, or come from the same place.

Race, ethnicity, religion — these are real differences, not illusions. But they don’t cancel out the deeper truth: we…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Empowering Women Across Faiths Since 1910The International […]

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:44:49 +0200

Empowering Women Across Faiths Since 1910

The International Association of Liberal Religious Women (IALRW) is a global interfaith network that connects liberal religious women from Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim, and other traditions.

For over a century, IALRW has been building bridges of friendship, cooperation, and understanding while…

Narava Prakasa Rao posted an update: 12th July 2026: SundayUnder the auspices of B.V. Foundation […]

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:36:50 +0200

12th July 2026: Sunday

Under the auspices of B.V. Foundation for Peace and Harmony, (a member group of the International Association for Religious Freedom – IARF) conducted a discussion grand meet at at Gandhi Centre ( L.B. College) on world Peace and prevention of violence. The event was presided over by the noted social worker, president a…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: In a world rich with spiritual traditions, religious […]

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:01:50 +0200

In a world rich with spiritual traditions, religious diversity isn’t a problem to solve — it’s a invitation to explore the sacred together.

From the quiet contemplation of a Buddhist temple to the joyful praise in a gospel choir, from the disciplined rhythm of Islamic prayer to the ancient wisdom of indigenous ceremonies, every faith offers a uniqu…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: The Unitarian Church Community (Unitarisk Kirkesamfund) in […]

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:03:58 +0200

The Unitarian Church Community (Unitarisk Kirkesamfund) in Copenhagen and I really love their approach!

It’s a welcoming space where people can explore their own personal faith without any pressure to believe the same things. They emphasize reason, respect for nature, and building community in a warm, inclusive way.

If you’re looking for a…

Dr Neha Yadav became a registered member

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:19:44 +0200

Johannes Spindler posted an update: Hey everyone,I’d like to warmly invite you to an upcoming w […]

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:27:06 +0200

Hey everyone,

I’d like to warmly invite you to an upcoming webinar this Sunday at 12:00 noon Berlin time: https://iarf.net/network/courses/72

The webinar is titled “From Diversity to Dialogue: Religion and Community in Socio-Economic Contexts” and will be given by Professor Dr. Christoph Knoblauch from my university.

Professor Knoblauch works in th…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: 'Bonus to liberal Christianity: I could use my reason and […]

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:44:10 +0200

‘Bonus to liberal Christianity: I could use my reason and believe at the same time.’

— Nadia Bolz-Weber, “Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint”

Faith and reason don’t have to be enemies. What are your thoughts?

Sam Rohan V became a registered member

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:20:15 +0200

Ramani Ramani became a registered member

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:54:13 +0200

Vandimalayan became a registered member

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:52:29 +0200

Paul Rani became a registered member

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:48:42 +0200

swathi became a registered member

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 06:47:05 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Did you know? The International Association for Religious […]

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:32:49 +0200

Did you know? The International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) is the world’s oldest global interfaith organisation!

Founded in 1900 in Boston by American Unitarians, IARF has been championing religious freedom, interfaith dialogue, and human rights for over 125 years.

It brings together liberal and free religious communities from around t…

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted an update: Dear Friends,We have received the sad news, via George […]

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 01:34:30 +0200

Dear Friends,

We have received the sad news, via George Williams, that Rev. Johanna “Jopie” Boeke, wife of the late Rev. Dr. Richard F. Boeke, passed away on June 28, 2026.

Many members of the IARF will have known Jopie and Richard personally, and many more will know of their long and faithful involvement in IARF and in international liberal rel…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: The Pagan Federation International (PFI) – working since 1 […]

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:10:54 +0200

The Pagan Federation International (PFI) – working since 1971 for a world where all Pagans can freely be themselves with the same rights and respect as any other belief.

As an umbrella organisation for nature-based and polytheistic paths, we focus on advocacy, education, and support — promoting a positive image of Paganism, providing accurate inf…

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz published a new periodical issue

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:50:39 +0200

New Resource

Monthly Letter No. 64 / July 2026

International Association for Religious Freedom, Japan Chapter

Description

Monthly newsletter of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) Japan Chapter, Issue No. 64 (July 2026).Contents:Legends of Mount Miwa: An overview of the sacred Mount Miwa in Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, and its connections to the Kojiki.Host of the…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: The true strength lies in respect.Let’s celebrate our d […]

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:07:13 +0200

The true strength lies in respect.

Let’s celebrate our differences instead of fearing them. Religious tolerance isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom, compassion, and the foundation of peace.

We may pray differently, but we all want the same things: love, safety, and dignity.

Ralf Grünke became a registered member

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:39:55 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Discover the Bund Freireligiöser Gemeinden Deutschlands […]

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:19:35 +0200

Discover the Bund Freireligiöser Gemeinden Deutschlands (BFGD)

The Federation of Free Religious Communities of Germany (BFGD) is one of Germany’s oldest organizations dedicated to free thought, religious freedom, and humanistic values. Founded in 1859, the BFGD brings together communities that value critical thinking, personal conscience, and et…

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz published a new periodical issue

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 03:04:09 +0200

New Resource

Monthly Letter No. 63 / June 2026

International Association for Religious Freedom, Japan Chapter

Description

This issue of the IARF Japan Chapter Monthly Letter opens with a cover essay on auspicious Japanese sword ornaments decorated with motifs of basho (Japanese banana plant) and mino-kame (a mythical long-lived turtle), and the Buddhist parable of "the one-eyed…

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted a new event

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:31:00 +0200

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz published a new resource recommendation

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 20:57:57 +0200

Recommended

God Created Humanism

Theo Hobson

Description

In this compelling account of the origins and evolution of our secular worldview, Theo Hobson shows how Christian values continue to underpin our public morality, how faith remains indispensable to Western humanism, and how atheistic humanism represeents a dead end….

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted an update: The June issue of our newsletter is out! You can read it here. […]

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:02:29 +0200

The June issue of our newsletter is out! You can read it here.

Also, please consider subscribing for our digest – you can receive an email with everything that has been posted in your groups and courses, new members and public posts every day, every 3 days or every week. It’s a convenient way to stay up to date with what is happening on the IAR…

Arben Sulejmani became a registered member

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 22:30:52 +0200

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted an update: Dear IARF Members,The International Council will meet on […]

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:34:35 +0200

Dear IARF Members,

The International Council will meet on Wednesday the 24th at 2 PM UTC.

All IARF Members are welcome to participate as observers. You can join using this link.

As the agenda is quite full, there may not be an opportunity for observers to speak during the meeting. However, your presence and interest are warmly welcomed and…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Happy Summer Solstice!Today the sun shines at its brightest, […]

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 11:50:43 +0200

Happy Summer Solstice!

Today the sun shines at its brightest, blessing us with the longest day of the year. A perfect moment to celebrate light, warmth, growth, and the abundance of nature.

May our hearts be full of joy, your spirit renewed by the sun’s fire, and may our lives are blooming with possibility.

Leah Frey-Rabine posted an update: The next BEYOND. Zoom session will take place on Monday, June […]

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 02:43:59 +0200

The next BEYOND. Zoom session will take place on Monday, June 22, from 7:00-8:30 PM CEDT. We have been exploring the topic of freedom from different religious perspectives. This time Waqar Tariq will discuss freedom from Muslim perspectives. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2185465010?pwd=TDRJRzVKRXl1MzN0SjJZY0NDdkNLZz09

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Human Rights in Religious Communities: Respect, Reform & […]

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:21:01 +0200

Human Rights in Religious Communities: Respect, Reform & Dialogue

In every faith tradition — Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and others — there are teachings of compassion, justice, and human dignity.

Yet across history and today, religious communities continue to grapple with important human rights questions:

Freedom of belief and…

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz wrote a new post

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:41:09 +0200

Please Sign the Petition for Yezidis in the Netherlands In recent months, IARF has supported young Yezidis in the Netherlands in their efforts to oppose a recent change in Dutch asylum policy, under which it is now […]

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz wrote a new post

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:53:39 +0200

Spiritual and Religious Journey to Japan This May, eleven IARF members from the US, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany undertook a spiritual and religious journey of two weeks to Japan. Kathy […]

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Thought and Religion Belong Together. — Albert SchweitzerIn a […]

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:34:12 +0200

Thought and Religion Belong Together. — Albert Schweitzer

In a world that often tries to separate reason from faith, Schweitzer reminds us that true depth comes when they walk hand in hand. Deep thinking strengthens genuine spirituality, and authentic religion invites honest reflection.

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz published a new book

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:25:46 +0200

New Resource

Liberal Religious Thought at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century: Addresses and Papers at the International Council of Unitarian and other Liberal Religious Thinkers and Workers, held in London, May, 1901

International Association for Religious Freedom, W. Copeland Bowie • 1901

Description

This book is a collection of addresses and papers presented at the inaugural meeting of the 'International Council of Unitarian and other Liberal Religious Thinkers and Workers,' held in London in May 1901. This event was the first congress of…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: In an age of declining traditional religion, liberal […]

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:25:56 +0200

In an age of declining traditional religion, liberal religiosity has quietly become the foundation of contemporary spirituality.

Less about rigid dogma and more about openness, compassion, personal experience, and ethical living — it’s reshaping way how to connect with the sacred today. Progressive faith traditions helped development of the min…

H. Roy Kaplan became a registered member

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 18:37:06 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Ever wonder where the word "RELIGION" actually comes from? One […]

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:10:22 +0200

Ever wonder where the word “RELIGION” actually comes from?

One of the most fascinating etymological roots points back to the Latin word “religare” (a view shared by ancient thinkers like Augustine and many modern writers).

Breaking it down:

Re- (meaning “back” or “again”)
Ligare (meaning “to bind, tie, or fasten”)

Together, it literally means “to…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” — it ap […]

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:04:25 +0200

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” — it appears in almost every major religion in the world:

Christianity: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)

Judaism: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow.” (Talmud, Shabbat 31a)

Islam: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he…

Ernests Ivanovs and Pierre Assamoua are now friends

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:11:47 +0200

Pierre Assamoua became a registered member

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:14:18 +0200

DR. ADAM KONADU became a registered member

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:26:53 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: On Planet Earth, there is only one race — the human race.We m […]

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:17:16 +0200

On Planet Earth, there is only one race — the human race.

We may look different, speak different languages, and carry unique stories, but at our core, we’re all one family. Let’s choose unity, kindness, and understanding over division.

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Flower Communion (also known as Flower Ceremony, Flower […]

Sun, 31 May 2026 12:29:40 +0200

Flower Communion (also known as Flower Ceremony, Flower Celebration, or Oslava květin in Czech) is a distinctive Unitarian Universalist ritual that celebrates the uniqueness of every individual within a beloved community.

Origins in Prague (1923)

The modern Flower Communion was created by Rev. Dr Norbert Čapek (1870–1942), a former Catholic who bec…

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted an update: The next session of Rev. Maruta's (@michinori-maruta) course […]

Sat, 30 May 2026 15:55:33 +0200

The next session of Rev. Maruta’s (@michinori-maruta) course on Buddhism and Free Religion will be held tomorrow (or today, if you are in America). He’s holding two (it’s the same content, repeated for people from different parts of the world).

The first one (Sunday the 31st at 1am UTC): https://iarf.net/network/courses/34/content?session=96, and…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Bishop John Shelby Spong (1931–2021)A bold voice in C […]

Fri, 29 May 2026 12:53:13 +0200

Bishop John Shelby Spong (1931–2021)

A bold voice in Christianity, the former Episcopal Bishop of Newark challenged traditional doctrines and championed a more inclusive faith. He was among the first to ordain women and an openly gay priest, advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion decades before it became mainstream.

Spong believed Christianity must e…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: The Evolution of Faith in the 21st Century: Why Literary […]

Thu, 28 May 2026 09:09:39 +0200

The Evolution of Faith in the 21st Century: Why Literary Criticism Matters

How do ancient religious texts continue to speak to a complex, modern world? The answer doesn’t lie in ignoring historical context, but in diving deeply into it.

In the 21st century, the historical-critical method and liberal literary criticism are more vital than ever for…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: "My religion is kindness to all."— His Holiness the Dalai L […]

Tue, 26 May 2026 10:31:44 +0200

“My religion is kindness to all.”

— His Holiness the Dalai Lama

This simple yet powerful message reminds us that true spirituality isn’t about rituals or rules — it’s about how we treat one another every single day.

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: May 25, 1900 – Founding Day of the International A […]

Mon, 25 May 2026 11:05:41 +0200

May 25, 1900 – Founding Day of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF)

On this day 126 years ago, visionary leaders gathered in Boston to establish the International Association for Religious Freedom — one of the world’s oldest interfaith organisations dedicated to promoting religious liberty, liberal religiosity, dialogue, and…

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted an update: Kurt's course, Presuppositions and Principles of Historical […]

Sat, 23 May 2026 01:31:58 +0200

Kurt’s course, Presuppositions and Principles of Historical Criticism, has recently concluded after four live sessions. You can still access it and watch the recordings, of course! It is really worth it!