This page provides useful links to a few of the many organizations, web sites and documents that offer additional information about religious freedom.
Other Centers
There are dozens of Centers and Institutes whose work touches in some way issues of religious freedom and the role of religion in public life. This list offers links to a few of them.
Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life
The Boisi Center is affiliated with Boston College. Its purpose is to connect scholars, policy makers, media and religious leaders in conversations and scholarly reflection around issues at the intersection of religion and American public life.
Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture
A research and public outreach institute devoted to increasing the understanding of the relation between religion and other features of American culture. The Center is based in the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Center on Religion and Democracy
A research center at the University of Virginia, committed to addressing the complex relationship between religion and democratic culture.
The Pluralism Project
Does research and offers excellent resources on religious diversity in America.
Center for the Study of Law and Religion
An interdisciplinary academic initiative of the Emory University School of Law that seeks to bring the wisdom of religious traditions into greater conversation with law and the social sciences.
J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies
A project of Baylor University devoted to research in the broad field of church and state and the advancement of religious liberty around the world.
The Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life
A project of Trinity College that seeks to advance knowledge and understanding of the role of religion in the contemporary world, and to explore the challenges of religious pluralism and the influence of religion on politics, civic culture, family life, gender roles, and other issues in the United States and elsewhere in the world.
The Martin Marty Center
An institute for the advanced interdisciplinary study of religion, located at the University of Chicago.
Institute of Bill of Rights Law
A project of the William and Mary School of Law that provides an interdisciplinary for discussing and debating matters of law and policy as a means of increasing our understanding of important constitutional issues.
The Interfaith Alliance
An interfaith advocacy group that seeks to promote democratic values, defend religious liberty, challenge hatred and religious bigotry, and reinvigorate informed civic participation.
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
A research organization that gathers and disseminates information and provides forums for public discussion about issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs.
Religious Freedom Sites
There are many organizations that maintain web sites devoted to religious freedom. These are a few of the most helpful. More links can be found on the Religious Freedom Page link below.
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State
A non-sectarian, non-partisan organization that seeks to defend separation of church and state in the courts, educate legislators, and work with the media to inform Americans about religious freedom issues.
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
A non-profit education and advocacy organization promoting religious liberty for all and upholding the principle of church-state separation; offers excellent analysis and resources about current issues.
Council for America’s First Freedom
A national educational center devoted to the protection and expansion of religious freedom worldwide. Its central project is the First Freedom Center in Richmond, Virginia, an interactive visitor center with exhibits exploring the development of religious freedom in America and related national and international issues.
International Association for Religious Freedom
An international and interfaith organization based in the United Kingdom.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
A nonpartisan, interfaith, legal and educational institute dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions; activities include litigation, commentary on public issues, and scholarship.
The First Amendment Center
A project of Vanderbilt University; offers research on First Amendment issues and topics, daily First Amendment news, several resources on the First Amendment, and guest analyses by respected legal specialists.
The Religious Freedom Page
A collection of useful resources, including historical documents, constitutions, laws, court decisions, information about religious freedom organizations, and other information. Maintained by the University of Virginia library; includes a list of other religious freedom sites.
Religion Clause Blog
Reports on news of religious freedom issues in the United States and around the world; contains may useful links to resources, academic centers (including the CSRF), advocacy groups, government offices, listserves, and other blogs.
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
An independent bipartisan government agency that monitors religious freedom around the world and makes reports and recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress.
Important Documents and Texts
These links provide access to the texts of several important historical and contemporary documents pertaining to religious liberty.
United States Constitution
Though the words of the First Amendment are more well known, the Constitution’s original text also contained language protecting religious freedom.
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786)
This law was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, and is considered by many to be among Jefferson’s greatest achievements. It became a model for other states.
James Madison, Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments (1785)
This is Madison’s eloquent argument for religious freedom, prepared in response to Patrick Henry’s 1784 bill proposing the establishment of Christianity as the official religion of Virginia.
Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptist Association (1802)
Jefferson was not the first to use the metaphor of a “wall of separation” between church and state, but his language in this letter has become part of the common currency of the First Amendment, both in the Supreme Court and the larger American discourse.
The Williamsburg Charter on the First Amendment (1988)
This eloquent document was prepared by a diverse group of legal and religious scholars as a reaffirmation of the central principles of religious liberty. It was published on June 25, 1988, the 200th anniversary of Virginia’s call for the Bill of Rights. Its signers included former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, congressmen, and many religious and civic leaders.
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18 (1948)
This foundational international human rights document included an important provision on religious freedom that has been extended and elaborated in subsequent documents.
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Article 9 (1950)
This document is binding on the 46 European countries that have ratified it. It creates rights enforceable under the laws of each country as well as in the European Court of Human Rights.
United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 18 (1966)
The United States has signed this covenant. It is a binding legal document in international law, but by itself does not create rights enforceable by private citizens in U.S. courts.
United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (1981)
This document is not a binding legal instrument, but it articulates important principles of religious liberty and elaborates the more general provisions of the 1966 covenant. It provides an international reference point for determining violations of religious rights.
Vienna Concluding Document, Principles 16 and 17 (1989)
Like the 1981 Declaration, this international document is not a binding legal instrument, but it offers an important summary of religious human rights principles.
United Methodist Church Resolution on Religious Liberty
United Methodist Church Resolution on Separation of Church and State
United Methodist Church Social Principle on Church and State Separation
Roman Catholic Church Declaration on Religious Liberty Vatican II, 1965