Religion & Global Affairs Newsletter, Vol. 6, Issue 29
- Knox Thames
- May 21
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
A pandemic of persecution impacts every faith community somewhere. In thinking about these challenges, we need innovative and expanded strategies in the face of massive human suffering. Below are some thoughts on new approaches and renewing old commitments.
For new ideas, I wrote about the unexplored potential of sacred sites to advance pluralism, human rights, and dialogue. I highlighted the alarming spike in Ahmadi mosque destructions in Pakistan while providing examples of where sacred sites serve as places of positive inclusion and understanding. The article for Open Global Rights is available in English and Spanish.
Regarding renewing current structures, I highlighted the need to reorganize the State Department to ensure full consideration of religious freedom and human rights in U.S. foreign policy. As part of the series on The Future of Religion in U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security for Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, I outline how a few Org chart changes can maintain robust human rights advocacy.
In this same vein, I recently spoke about why our values must inform our interests both individually and as a nation. The context was Georgetown College's commencement. It was a humbling honor to speak, especially as Georgetown is my alma mater. Referencing the recent Global Flourishing Study, I challenged students to push back against a popular culture focused on personal comfort and pursue a life of service to others. My speech is available to watch or read.
America's commitment to human rights is also in our interests, as it's a competitive advantage against China. That was part of my message to U.S. Army chaplains at last month's Strategic Religious Partnership Training in Hawaii. My USIP article, "In Religious Conflicts, Bolstering the Role of Military Chaplains," co-written with Melissa Nozell, was included in the USARPAC-OCCH publication Strategic Religious Partnership Training. I enjoyed discussing key religious leader engagement with Army chaplains and best practices in assessing the religious landscape.
Grasping how persecution shapes the religious landscape is essential, as violence can leave lasting scars. The impact of organized crime on religious freedom across the Americas is a new concern. While religious freedom is generally respected in the region, criminal groups threaten religious communities through violence, extortion, and coercion. We hosted a discussion with advocates working in Mexico and Colombia (translated into Spanish here).
Religious persecution continues in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. At George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, I stressed that we must remain clear-eyed about the systematic violations perpetrated by Putin's regime both inside Russia and in the occupied territories.
Regarding my book ENDING PERSECUTION, opportunities to speak about its findings continue to arise. I'm grateful to Union Theological Seminary and Frederick Davie for hosting a discussion in New York City. Check out my presentation and the thoughtful panel discussion with Simran Jeet Singh, Rachel Miner, Rose Parris Richter, and Mark Fowler. Considering the topic, to walk the same halls as Dietrich Bonhoeffer was truly inspiring.
On Daniel Darling's podcast, we discussed the book and its findings. We covered a lot of ground, discussing Russia and Ukraine, China, India, Nigeria, Nicaragua, and the impact of foreign aid cuts on efforts to advance religious freedom globally. Worth a listen.
***BTW, Amazon is offering 35% off the book's list price.***
The CAAP Network continues to generate resources to help Christians pray and advocate for all the persecuted. Our April prayer guide highlighted the persecution of Baháʼís and Christians in Iran. We're also creating video resources, such as advocacy best practices and my Sunday sermon on these themes. And mark your calendars, as Dallas Baptist University will again host the Global Gathering: Praying for ALL the Persecuted in Dallas, Texas, on October 20-21.
I welcome your feedback. My previous newsletter, which includes thoughts on foreign assistance, refugee resettlement, Syrian religious minorities, and more, can be found here. As always, the views expressed here are my own.
Regards,
Knox Thames
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