Human Rights

The Human Rights Reading Room :: Faith & Diplomacy

Faith Based Diplomacy and Reconciliation The intellectual and spiritual basis for the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy (ICRD) at Washington DC unconventional approach to conflict resolution can be found in Religion, the Missing Dimension of Statecraft and its sequel, Faith-based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik (Oxford University Press, 1994 and 2003). Religious or spiritual factors can play a role in preventing or resolving conflict. A strong case is made for incorporating religious reconciliation and social justice into the practice of international politics. Read ICRD research…

Does Human Rights Need God? by. Elizabeth M. Bucar and Barbra Barnett (Paperback - Aug 31, 2005).  On what basis can one argue that religion is the key to the “why” of human rights?  This volume defines religion as a comprehensive…tradition of beliefs about the meaning and appropriate living of human life. Read article by G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Religion BookLine, Publishers Weekly, 11/2/2005 Spotlight on God & Human Rights.

Faith Based Reconciliation:  An Outline of Notes. Brian Cox, an ordained Episcopal pastor trained at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA.  Faith-based reconciliation as an alternative paradigm for conflict resolution in international settings. Jewish, Islamic, and Christian perspectives on pluralism, inclusion, peace making, social justice, forgiveness, healing, sovereignty, atonement. His precise definitions of terminology are highly useful to coherent discussion.    Read more…

Faith-based Diplomacy:  Bridging the Religious Divide.  A presentation by Dr. Douglas M. Johnson to the Secretary’s Open Forum, U.S. Department of State - December 8, 2006.  How can faith-based diplomacy contribute to U.S. foreign policy?  What is it?  Can religion contribute to solutions in some of the identity-based conflicts where traditional diplomacy has failed?  Read more…

The Global Face of Public Faith:  Politics, Human Rights & Christian Ethics.  David Hollenbach, S.J., published by Georgetown University Press, Washington DC.  Should religious communities be vigorous advocates of human rights, democratic governance, and [equitable] economic development worldwide? In so doing, will they then also become peacemakers? “David Hollenbach is a calm voice of reason in a chaotic world, with an eye that sees beyond national horizons to where human needs and human rights converge. He is convinced that religious traditions can find common ground-through the use of rights and rights language.”  See inside the book at Amazon.