The Initiative

AMERICAN CHARTER

The Bill of Rights and our nation’s legal and societal traditions have long protected freedom of religion and conscience. The American Charter initiative focuses on identifying common ground and helping diverse religious and non-religious leaders work together on issues involving this fundamental right.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND CONSCIENCE PROJECT

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.