Sensitivity to religious persecution declining, Land says

Sensitivity to religious persecution declining, Land says

 

Religious persecution is increasing around the world while, ironically, Americans’ sensitivity to and understanding of religious liberty is declining, argued Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Land spoke at Rice University’s inaugural conference on religious tolerance Sept. 21, appearing in his role as a commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

“There is a religious dimension to every conflict in the world,” he said, adding that ethnic and religious strife is replacing power or economics as primary motivators behind wars and terrorist attacks.

“Future [American] leaders must take religion seriously,” Land said. “Otherwise, foreign policies will fall short. Our leaders must factor religion into domestic and foreign policies” if America hopes to continue to have an impact on peace of freedom around the world.

“The gold standard (of religious freedom) is Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights,” he said.

Land quoted Article 18: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, workship and observance.’

“If Afghanistan or Iraq or some other country wants to give right of place to Islam, that is their right,” he said. “What they have no right to do is coerce belief, or prevent conversions, or restrict the practice of other faiths.”

(BP)