The International Association for Religious Freedom | Site-Wide Activity

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Empowering young minds for a tolerant India! Our Human Rights […]

Fri, 15 May 2026 10:09:57 +0200

Empowering young minds for a tolerant India!

Our Human Rights Education program, running since 2005, is back with 10 workshops in 2026 across five colleges and universities in India.

College students and young professionals are learning about fundamental rights, religious freedom, and combating discrimination through interactive two-day sessions…

Leah Frey-Rabine posted an update: The next BEYOND. Zoom Spiritual Meeting will be on Monday, […]

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:35:41 +0200

The next BEYOND. Zoom Spiritual Meeting will be on Monday, May 18, from 19:00-20:30. Carol Wanske and Peter Dennebaum will discuss freedom from a Christian perspective. You are cordially invited to join us in discussion and fellowship.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2185465010?pwd=TDRJRzVKRXl1MzN0SjJZY0NDdkNLZz09

Daniel NKONGOLO BUNYENGU became a registered member

Thu, 14 May 2026 18:12:48 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Religious Freedom Under Pressure in EgyptThe Egyptian […]

Thu, 14 May 2026 15:16:49 +0200

Religious Freedom Under Pressure in Egypt

The Egyptian government continues to systematically enforce laws, policies, and judicial decisions that repress non-Muslim religious life. This includes Baha’is, Coptic Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews, Qur’anists, members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, and non-believers.

While the gover…

KENNETH ING became a registered member

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:09:34 +0200

Peter Bertram Godfrey became a registered member

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:05:24 +0200

Carol Wanske became a registered member

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:50:57 +0200

Britto Arul posted an update: We are conducting a workshop for school teachers on Peace and […]

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:38:02 +0200

We are conducting a workshop for school teachers on Peace and Harmony in collaboration with the Indian Social Institute at Institute of Development Education and Action Studies (IDEAS) from 15th May 2026 to 17th May 2026.

Around 40 teachers from the southern zone of Tamil Nadu, India, will participate in this programme. The workshop aims to equip…

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted a new event

Tue, 12 May 2026 21:15:17 +0200

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz published a new course.

Tue, 12 May 2026 21:14:21 +0200

In an increasingly pluralistic world, how can religious diversity serve as a resource for stronger, more inclusive communities? This webinar explores how religious pluralism can be actively mobilized to foster community engagement across diverse socio-economic environments.

We are honoured to welcome Prof. Dr. Christoph Knoblauch (University of…

Leah Frey-Rabine posted an update: Birthday blessings to our wonderful Executive Secretary and […]

Tue, 12 May 2026 18:48:23 +0200

Birthday blessings to our wonderful Executive Secretary and cyberspace pilot Luke! May you enjoy many more happy, healthy, and peaceful years to come!

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: The IARF Japan Study Tour 2026 is underway! We’re enjoying t […]

Tue, 12 May 2026 16:00:53 +0200

The IARF Japan Study Tour 2026 is underway!

We’re enjoying the perfect balance of visiting sacred places and spending meaningful time with our wonderful member communities across Japan. The journey started in Tokyo with warm fellowship at Rissho Kosei-kai headquarters alongside IALRW Japan and the IARF Japan Chapter.

The group is now connecting w…

Mathias Becker became a registered member

Tue, 12 May 2026 13:51:45 +0200

Peter le Poole posted an update: Part of our group in front of the beautiful Itsukuina shrine […]

Tue, 12 May 2026 08:09:03 +0200

Part of our group in front of the beautiful Itsukuina shrine (shinto) on Miyajima island, half an hour by boat from Hiroshima. Nice little village at the feet of lush mountainous forests. Very serene. Wish I could spend a month here!

Sonal Dhir became a registered member

Mon, 11 May 2026 22:36:05 +0200

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted an update: Dear all,To make it easier to stay in touch with our global […]

Mon, 11 May 2026 12:44:35 +0200

Dear all,

To make it easier to stay in touch with our global community, did you know you can install the IARF Network directly onto your phone’s home screen and receive native notifications?

Watch this quick, 2-minute tutorial to see how to do it.

Why install the app?

* 🚀 Faster, one-tap access to the network.

* 🔔 Receive instant notifications when s…

Fertac Bilge became a registered member

Sun, 10 May 2026 03:37:36 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: We’re glad to announce that BEYOND. - The European Network f […]

Sat, 09 May 2026 12:56:34 +0200

We’re glad to announce that BEYOND. – The European Network for Religious Progressives has officially joined the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) as a new member group!

Our connection began at the 2025 European Conference in Frankfurt, and we are delighted to now welcome them into our global community.

BEYOND.’s strong com…

Margaret (Peggy) Kanada became a registered member

Sat, 09 May 2026 06:42:05 +0200

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

Sat, 09 May 2026 04:33:41 +0200

The May 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 IARF Net…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: In May 1945, as the smoke cleared from a world-shattering […]

Thu, 07 May 2026 10:00:54 +0200

In May 1945, as the smoke cleared from a world-shattering conflict, the IARF Secretariat did more than just reopen its doors—it reclaimed a vital space for the human spirit. At the very heart of this rebirth was a commitment to liberal religiosity: the profound belief that faith should be a matter of conscience, characterised by an open mind and a…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Many people are walking away because faith feels stuck in the […]

Wed, 06 May 2026 10:39:56 +0200

Many people are walking away because faith feels stuck in the past.

What if the solution isn’t abandoning religion — but approaching it with more openness, reason, and compassion? A liberal approach that keeps the spiritual wisdom while embracing human dignity, science, and evolving ethics.

Faith doesn’t have to fear questions. It can grow with them.

REV TINA GANDHI became a registered member

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:04:29 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Today is World Press Freedom Day!A free and independent press […]

Sun, 03 May 2026 08:24:29 +0200

Today is World Press Freedom Day!

A free and independent press is essential for democracy, accountability, and truth. We honor the journalists around the world who courageously report the facts, often at great personal risk.

Protecting press freedom protects all of us.

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: What if faith doesn't require believing in miracles as […]

Sat, 02 May 2026 11:03:24 +0200

What if faith doesn’t require believing in miracles as literal history?

Rudolf Bultmann, one of the most influential 20th-century theologians, argued that we must demythologize the New Testament.

He believed the Bible’s supernatural stories (miracles, virgin birth, resurrection as literal events) were ancient myths meant to convey deeper existential…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Happy Beltane Day!May the fires of passion, growth, and new […]

Fri, 01 May 2026 08:33:42 +0200

Happy Beltane Day!

May the fires of passion, growth, and new beginnings light up your path. Wishing you joy, fertility, and vibrant energy as we celebrate the peak of spring!

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted a new event

Fri, 01 May 2026 02:02:27 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Progressive Muslim voices — from scholars to everyday b […]

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:42:18 +0200

Progressive Muslim voices — from scholars to everyday believers — continue this spirit today by advocating for gender justice, religious pluralism, human rights, freedom of thought, and welcoming communities that embrace diversity, including LGBTQ+ Muslims and interfaith families.

True faith, in its ethical core, is a force for mercy (rahma) and…

Riany Annisya became a registered member

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:49:13 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: When we engage in honest, respectful dialogue across […]

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:58:44 +0200

When we engage in honest, respectful dialogue across religious lines, something beautiful happens — we begin to see faith not as a set of rigid rules that separate us, but as a shared human quest for meaning, morality, and connection to something greater.

This is the essence of a liberal approach to religiosity: one that values personal freedom, c…

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Even if a church or denomination presents itself as […]

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:47:11 +0200

Even if a church or denomination presents itself as “historical,” “mainstream,” or “traditional,” when it demands unquestioning obedience, suppresses doubt, controls personal relationships, or treats its doctrines as above criticism — it is behaving like a cult, regardless of its age or size.

Real transformation rarely comes from pure external c…

Raphael Keilmann became a registered member

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:57:27 +0200

Carmen Hidalgo became a registered member

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:26:48 +0200

Chris De Werd became a registered member

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:24:42 +0200

Wolfgang Hannig became a registered member

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:06:18 +0200

Mervat Magdy became a registered member

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:37:10 +0200

Daniel Kempin became a registered member

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:39:50 +0200

Dorothea Gauland became a registered member

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:37:10 +0200

Leah Frey-Rabine and Ernests Ivanovs are now friends

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:50:37 +0200

Leah Frey-Rabine posted an update: BEYOND. European Network for Religious Progressives is […]

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:39:42 +0200

BEYOND. European Network for Religious Progressives is beginning a new discussion series on the topic of freedom. Cantor Leah Frey-Rabine will open the series from a Jewish perspective. We cordially invite you to come, meet us, and participate. Link: https://iarf.net/network/courses/71

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Faith without the Label? The Rise of the "Nones" in Latin […]

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:43:03 +0200

Faith without the Label? The Rise of the “Nones” in Latin America

(based on article by Helen Teixeira in Religion News Service – February 12, 2026)

The religious landscape in Latin America is shifting—and fast. A recent 2024 Pew Research Center survey shows that the number of people identifying as “religiously unaffiliated” has skyrocketed. In t…

Denton Crews became a registered member

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:00:15 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Building bridges starts with conversation.Dialogue between […]

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:25:58 +0200

Building bridges starts with conversation.

Dialogue between different faiths replaces fear with understanding and reveals our shared humanity.

Let’s listen, learn, and connect. A more peaceful world is possible.

Leah Frey-Rabine became a registered member

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:47:51 +0200

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted an update in the group Trustees’ Working Group: Dear all, You will find the agenda here. It includes links to […]

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:13:25 +0200

Dear all,

You will find the agenda here. It includes links to some documents for context.

Please connect using this Zoom link.

Please let me know if any items on the agenda require additional clarification or if you’d like to add more points (or remove/defer some).

All the best,
Luke

Lukasz (Luke) Liniewicz posted a new event

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:28:32 +0200

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Jubrān Khalīl Jubrān (1883 – 1931), usually referred to in E […]

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:53:11 +0200

Jubrān Khalīl Jubrān (1883 – 1931), usually referred to in English as Kahlil Gibran, was a Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist. He was also considered a philosopher, although he himself rejected the title.

Ernests Ivanovs posted an update: Ever heard of Omnism?It’s the belief that every religion h […]

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:56:25 +0200

Ever heard of Omnism?

It’s the belief that every religion holds a piece of the ultimate truth. No faith has it all — but together, they paint a fuller picture of the divine.

Whether you pray in a church, mosque, temple, or sit in silent meditation, Omnism says: respect the path, honor the wisdom, celebrate the diversity.

What’s one truth you’v…

Liliya became a registered member

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:02:19 +0200

Paul Overend commented on Imaoka Sensei, Interfaith Dialogue and Unconscious Pitfalls in the library

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:01:22 +0200

Comment

Imaoka Sensei, Interfaith Dialogue and Unconscious Pitfalls

George M. Williams, IARF Free Religion Institute • 2025

I was intrigued by Prof Williams’s translation of Kiitsu Kyōkai, which pulls away from Andrew J Brown's ontological interpretation of "returning to one" (with an implied onto-theology), but rather draws rather on Doism, to suggest it means "walking the one…

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