American Charter
Welcome to The American Charter
The American Charter of Freedom of Religion and Conscience is a collaborative initiative to:
- Restore civility to public discourse on religion and freedom of religion and conscience in American society.
- Explore the meaning and value of freedom of religion and conscience as a foundation of American democracy and national and international prosperity.
- Build a multi-faith, non-partisan coalition working to affirm freedom of religion and conscience as a vital safeguard for people of all faiths and none.
For People of All Faiths and of None
REAFFIRMING
The American consensus on the meaning and value of freedom of religion and conscience for everyone, and for our country, and empowering diverse supporters of this fundamental human right.
The Vision
In the midst of great polarization and division, the principles of freedom of religion and conscience are more important than ever. It is up to each of us to restore civility and mutual respect to our national life and public discourse.
Putting the principles of freedom of religion and conscience into practice strengthens our ability to work across religious, political, and other divides.
Americans — whether religious or not — have always held vastly different views, opinions, and beliefs. The American Charter affirms we can still live together in peace and with mutual respect.
Launched at an unveiling ceremony in November 2018 at the historic National Archives in Washington, D.C., the American Charter is both a document that provides a contemporary restatement of principle and a collaborative initiative to champion those ideas across the country.
The Charter
The American Charter of Freedom of Religion and Conscience has been developed in collaboration with scholars, experts, and key representatives of diverse religious and nonreligious constituencies from across the political and ideological spectrum.
The American Charter reaffirms and celebrates our nation’s remarkable and exceptionally robust commitment to freedom of religion and conscience for all people. The American Charter has been supported by civil and religious leaders from across the broad spectrum of American society.
Learn More about the American Charter Initiative:
The initiative supports and elevates leaders who cross political and religious lines to help Americans work together to maintain respect and protections for freedom of religion and conscience for people of all religious faiths and none. The American Charter initiative does not seek to advance any particular faith or position.
Instead, our goal is to advance a productive, respectful discussion and increase understanding of the meaning and value of freedom of religion and conscience and America’s extensive and ever-increasing religious pluralism.
The Bill of Rights and our nation’s legal and societal traditions have long protected freedom of religion and conscience. However, current polarizing controversies and confusions threaten to undermine Americans’ long-standing consensus about this fundamental right. Americans must risk building trust-based relationships with diverse others to heal the incivility of the last half century of culture-warring. Doing so will counteract destructive polarizations and help ensure our nation’s remarkable religious pluralism remains strong and fully protected for people of all faiths and none.
SPONSORS
The American Charter of Freedom of Religion and Conscience is an initiative of the Religious Freedom Institute in partnership with Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion launched with funding from the Templeton Religion Trust.
