Introduction

Summary

The Introduction argues that religion has long been a critical foundation and dimension of human rights; that religion and human rights still need each other for each to thrive; and that robust promotion and protection of religious freedom is the best way to protect many other fundamental rights today, even though religious freedom and other fundamental rights sometimes clash and need judicious balancing. Human rights, however, are not a fundamental belief system. They are only middle axioms in our discourse, a means to the ends of achieving justice, order, and peace for all. Human rights ultimately depend upon the visions and values of human communities, including religious communities, for their content, coherence, and controlled application.