Knox Thames Highlights Importance of Religious Freedom in Peacemaking at ICLRS Symposium

7 October 2024, Provo, Utah — Knox Thames, senior fellow at Pepperdine University and a senior visiting expert at the U.S. Institute of Peace, delivered remarks during a panel on “Understanding Religious Freedom: Why Does It Matter?” at the ICLRS 31st Annual International Law and Religion Symposium. Thames emphasized the critical role of religious freedom in achieving lasting peace and highlighted insights from his recent book, Ending Persecution: Charting the Global Path to Religious Freedom (Notre Dame Press 2024).

Thames highlighted the paradox that, while 84% of the global population believes in God or a higher power, two-thirds live under significant restrictions on faith practices. He outlined four types of persecution—authoritarian, extremist, democratic, and terrorism-driven—and explained how these forms of repression threaten human rights and societal harmony.

In his remarks, Thames emphasized education as a critical solution to counter extremism and foster tolerance. “Religious freedom matters for peace,” he said, advocating for long-term investment in teaching positive pluralism. He shared practical recommendations to combat persecution:

Key Recommendations:

1. Prioritize tolerance and pluralism in educational curriculums.
2. Increase funding for teacher training and improved textbooks that reflect religious diversity.
3. Utilize sacred sites to promote interfaith understanding and respect for religious diversity.

Thames urged U.S. policymakers to prioritize these efforts, recognizing the deep connection between religion and global peacemaking. His comments drew on his recent book Ending Persecution: Charting the Global Path to Religious Freedom (Notre Dame Press, 2024), offering insights from over two decades of government service.

“Education is perhaps the most powerful tool in this effort,” he said, emphasizing the need for a proactive, global approach to teaching tolerance and promoting religious freedom.

Thames began by underscoring the connection between religious freedom and peace, stating, “There can be no durable peace without religious freedom.” He pointed out that while peace may be temporarily achieved through the cessation of violence, genuine and lasting peace requires societies to respect the rights of individuals to practice their beliefs without fear of discrimination or persecution.

Religious freedom, Thames noted, allows for honest dialogue about the underlying causes of conflict, many of which are tied to religious and belief systems. This openness fosters interfaith cooperation and dialogue, which are essential to peacemaking efforts.

Thames also warned of the rising tide of global religious persecution, citing research from the Pew Research Center that shows two-thirds of the global population lives under significant restrictions on faith practices, even though 84% of people worldwide believe in a higher power. He identified four types of persecution—authoritarian, extremist, democratic, and terrorism-driven.

As a solution, Thames proposed practical approaches to promote religious tolerance and pluralism, with a particular focus on education. “Education is perhaps the most powerful tool,” he stated, arguing that teaching tolerance and positive pluralism in schools can counter extremist ideologies and foster more inclusive societies. He called for increased funding and diplomatic engagement to support educational reforms, particularly in regions where religious intolerance is on the rise.

Thames argued by advocating for the use of sacred sites as places to promote pluralism. His ongoing research with Pepperdine and the U.S. Institute of Peace explores how sacred heritage sites can serve as platforms to discuss diversity and foster interfaith understanding.

In conclusion, Thames reiterated that promoting religious freedom and tolerance through education is a critical component of peacemaking, and urged policymakers to prioritize these efforts in their human rights and foreign policy agendas.