Every religious tradition has the capacity for both good and evil, suggests Charles Kimball in his work, When Religion Becomes Evil. Indeed, the passion and truth claims associated with religious belief make religion susceptible to extremes. This week, as we remember the events of 9/11, we cannot escape the stark reminders of the dangers inherent in religious extremism and the dire consequences that emerge when religious zeal fuses with coercive power.

We all — male and female, Democrat and Republican, the religious and those who choose no religion, the religious extremists and those who express their faith differently — would do well to hear and digest the principle of robust and genuine religious liberty for all.

Continue »

In a world torn by religious, ethnic and geopolitical conflict, we can be thankful this Thanksgiving that, for the most part, our country has been spared that kind of strife.

A dedication to religious liberty for everyone, a passion for welcoming pluralism — not just tolerating it — and our constitutional construct that separates church and state have allowed us, for the most part, to avoid religious conflict and wars.

This is not brought about by accident, or even entirely by Providence.

Continue »