As Madison observed in his "Memorial and Remonstrance," written over two centuries ago: "Torrents of blood have been spilt in the Old World by vain attempts of the secular arm to extinguish Religious discord by proscribing all differences in Religious opinion." Sadly, these torrents of blood have flowed in the United States and continue to flow beyond the United States over religious differences, the clash of religions, and the acts of terrorism by those who claim religion as the motive for their actions. Afghanistan, (Beslan) Russia, Sudan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Ireland have become notorious examples of religious war and terrorism. In other places in the world we have seen riots, arrests, and assassinations on the grounds of religion. Terms like "the clash of civilizations" ominously forebode impending world conflict. This categorical thinking, an underlying apocalypticism, and the policies that accompany it stand in the way of our humanitarian goal of peaceful and free religious pluralism.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights – 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, worship and observance.”  

Adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, December 10, 1948, Paris, France.

Eleanor Roosevelt	Jacques Chirac	Desmond Tutu
Mother Teresa	Elie Wiesel	Akbar Ahmed