About us
The International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) is a charitable organization that works for religious freedom around the world. Founded in 1900, it is the oldest international group that promotes dialogue among religions.
WHO WE ARE
IARF-International includes organizations and individuals from five continents, 23 countries, and various religious traditions. IARF has chapters in nine countries.
WHAT WE DO
IARF-US provides information on barriers to religious freedom as well as briefings on spiritual practices through our website, newsletter, alerts, and presentations.
We collaborate with other organizations involved with issues of religious freedom and promote discussion of action steps, including organizing conferences and events to promote and facilitate interfaith dialogue.
IARF-US communicates regularly with its current and potential members, and actively participates in events led by its allies. We also fundraise, advocate, and respond to instances of religious persecution through both public statements and public witness.
Our Mission
The U.S. Chapter of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) brings more than a century of experience working for interfaith justice towards a sustainable and peaceful world. By working collaboratively with diverse faith groups and individuals of conscience in the U.S., we promote and nurture inter-religious communication and understanding.
We build relationships across the globe by working in collaboration with our parent organization, IARF-International.
U.S. Chapter Board
George Garland, President
John Gubbings, Treasurer
Roy Kaplan
Stephen Schwichow
Wynante Sewell
Kunihiko Terasawa
U.S. Chapter Advisors
Betsy Darr
Doris Hunter
Abhi Janamanchi
Kathy Matsui
Peter Richardson
From the President
Dear Members and Friends,
The excellent current Netflix series, The American Revolution, offers viewers several episodes that clearly indicate the Founding Fathers concern not only about the autocracy of George III, but concern about the tyranny of the Church of England. This focus on religious freedom resulted in the promise of a bill of rights, and it became the critical issue during the years of the Constitutional Congress—to the extent that many members would not ratify a constitution without a bill of rights.
What became The First Amendment in the newly created Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, calls for both free speech and freedom of religion. No religious demands could be imposed by the state. Codifying this was truly a radical idea. The Founding Fathers had no qualms about the practice of religion in their daily lives but greatly feared state oversight. Their creation of a secular government, described in Jefferson’s writings as “separation of church and state,” was an experiment essential for their diverse colonies.
Each year the US Conference on International Religious Freedom calls out “Countries of Concern” for blasphemy laws used to punish free speech in the name of religion. Increasingly, in the United States, we see a movement to limit speech to that which promotes what is considered a narrow interpretation of one religion, Christianity. Increasingly we see assertions that the First Amendment is anti-Christian and see challenges to the separation of church and state. Preserving religious freedom is a major challenge today as we pursue the American Experiment.
—George Garland
Statement on the Middle East
The IARF-US actively collaborates with individuals and organizations on issues of religious freedom and promotes and facilitates interfaith dialogue. We urge participants in the unfolding actions throughout the Middle East, from individuals to nation states, to treat one another with respect and to apply the timeless “golden rule”: do unto others as you would have them you unto you. Only then, can the barriers to religious freedom—ongoing deadly conflicts, lack of food, water, and health care, and exposure to extreme environmental conditions—subside.
Facing Persecution
Many religious groups in the US have historically faced persecution, harassment, and discrimination. If you know of individuals, groups/organizations who are experiencing religious persecution, please contact IARF-US. Please send an email to: gagarland@gmail.com