Interfaith Organizations
As a broad, representative organization, the Religions for Peace - USA offers these links for informational and reference purposes only. If you would like to request an addition to the list, please send us a note with the appropriate link.
Founded in 1997, ASMA Society was the first American organization committed to bringing Muslims and non-Muslims together through programs in culture, art, academia and current affairs.
-American
Academy of Religion
This group is composed of members from the academic community
that includes teachers and professors. The aim of the academy is to further
understanding of religion.
-Center
for Global Ethics
What does it mean to be a reasonable citizen of the world? The
Center for Global Ethics brings together the philosophies of people from
different religious disciplines.
Through their core values of Dialogue, Discovery, and Respect; Children of Abraham seeks to build an international community of Muslim and Jewish youth that celebrates their religious identities and communities.
-Churches
for Middle East Peace
This organization is comprised of Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches
which stresses the importance of peaceful resolutions to the conflict
in the Middle East.
The Cordoba Initiative, founded in 2002, is a multi-faith organization whose objective is to heal the relationship between the Islamic World and America through civil dialogue, policy initiatives, education, and cultural programs.
-Council
for a Parliament of World Religions
Fostering peace and spiritual healing in a world plagued with
unnecessary war, the Council for a Parliament of World Religions encourages
dialogue between multi-religious groups.
-Fellowship
of Reconciliation
The Fellowship of Reconciliation works towards a paradigm shift
in the way the world approaches life. The members of this group believe
in non-violence and work towards changing communities.
-Institute
on Religion and Public Policy
This organization focuses on diverse research on religion. It is non-partisan
group and aims at creating effective public policy.
-Interfaith
Alliance
Positioned in an activist stance, this group promotes values of democracy
in the religious sphere. They fight religious bigotry and believe in the
American value of “justice for all”.
-Interfaith
Center for Corporate Responsibility
This advocacy group helps promote responsibility in the corporate world
through various activities.
-Interfaith
Center for Peace
How can peace be made in a holistic manner? A primary question asked by
this organization is “How can we treat the underlying causes of
social problems and war to prevent their continuance in the world?”
-Interfaith
Center of New York
This organization was founded to foster interfaith understanding and tolerance.
People from varying religious groups are asked to work together to solve
common community problems so that a spirit of cooperation is developed
between diverse groups.
-The Interfaith Center at the Presidio
This organization was created "to welcome, serve, and celebrate the diverse spiritual wisdom and faith traditions of the Bay Area." The Center is networked globally with hundreds of interfaith groups in 50 countries who share a common commitment: ...to promote daily, enduring interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence, and to create cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings.
-Interfaith
Peace Builders
This organization sends delegations to Israel/Palestine to see the effects
of occupation and conflict, and to learn from both Israeli and Palestinian
nonviolent peace and human rights activists.
-Interfaith
Youth Core
This non-profit organization works with young people to strengthen their
religious understanding while fostering interfaith understanding between
different religious backgrounds.
-International
Association for Religious Freedom
Recognizing that religion is a driving force in people’s lives,
this organization works at a global level to assure religious freedom.
-International
Committee for the Peace Council
This group explores a different paradigm for living life. Prominent leaders
from various world religions come together to show how ‘it is possible
to live together in peace instead of separating the world community through
violence.’
-International
Interfaith Center
Dedicated to freedom of religion for all, the members of the International
Interfaith Center coordinate the activities of a variety of interfaith
groups. This organization has a research center and also promotes conferences
on interfaith activities.
-The
Interreligious Center on Public Life (ICPL)
This forum for interreligious dialogue was established jointly by the
Andover Newton Theological School, and Hebrew College “for the dissemination
of the principles and ideas of the Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity
and Islam as they relate to the great domestic and international issues
of the day.” They host educational programs such as ones analyzing
the Talmud, the Gospels, and major Islamic movements.
-Light
of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS)
The Light
of Truth Universal Shrine is a beautiful temple serving and recognizing
all religions as being a part of a greater whole. This shrine was constructed
to foster peace and understanding between all faiths.
-Middle
East Peace and Development (MEPD)
This organization works, as many others do, to spread unity and understanding
across the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
The MEPD looks to have members of each faith meet and get to know counterparts
from other traditions and teach them about their faiths.
-National
Interfaith Cable Coalition
This cooperative organization helps to bring programs focused on faith
and religious issues to the major networks.
-North
American Interfaith Network (NAIN)
Through its conference, newsletters, website, member organizations, Board
and support members, NAIN works to facilitate understanding and networking
between various interfaith organizations throughout North America, including
Canada, the US, and Mexico.
-Ontario
Consultants on Religious Tolerance
The members of this group stress that religions are very different in
nature from group to group. They teach ways to recognize that you might
disagree with another person’s religious point of view, but that
you can always accept a stance of religious tolerance.
-The
Peace Abbey
The Peace
Abbey offers comprehensive programs and resources to encourage others
to speak out effectively on issues of peace and social justice. Their
grounds include a Multifaith Chapel, conference center and many memorials.
-The
Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
This organization is a newsletter on the ways in which religious events
shape politics, law, domestic and international affairs.
-The
Pluralism Project
The Rockerfeller and Ford Foundations have funded The Pluralism Project
so that research can be conducted to better understand the religious diversity
in this country.
-Religions
for Peace-International
This is a large organization of members working together for interfaith
causes. Religions for Peace USA is affiliated with this organization.
-The
Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding
Created to diffuse religious antipathy, this organization works in various
ways to discourage violence.
-The
Temple of Understanding
This NGO supports interfaith cooperation through education and community
outreach.
-The
United Nations Economic and Social Council
Coordinates the work of other UN organizations and promotes social, and
economic justice and progress. Since the United Nations is such a central
organization when dealing with international issues, this website is an
invaluable resource as it is a gateway into other links.
-United
Religions Initiative
This organization works towards interfaith understanding with an added
emphasis on ending religiously motivated violence. This group does not
espouse to any particular religion and has a strong charter explaining
its goals.
-U.S.
Conference of the World Council of Churches
Ecumenical in nature, this organization brings together churches with
the aim of open dialogue.
-World
Congress of Faiths
This group publishes a very important journal, Interreligious Insight,
in the field of interfaith studies. Also, work is done by this organization
to coordinate interfaith groups into accomplishing common goals.