Book Launch: Religious Soft Diplomacy & the United Nations: Religious Engagement as Loyal Opposition

A virtual webinar celebrating the publication of this important book will occur via Zoom on 24 June 2021 at 10:00 am – 12:00 pm EST. The webinar will open with remarks from Prof. Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, followed by a moderated discussion with the editors and contributors to the publication and ending with questions from the audience as time allows.

Background Information

The co-editors Rev. Prof. Dr. James T. Christie and Dr. Sherrie M. Steiner recently published a book with the title “Religious Soft Diplomacy and the United Nations – Religious Engagement as Loyal Opposition”. The engagement of religious diplomacy within the United Nations systems has become increasingly important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This book argues that effective religious diplomacy must reflect the great diversity of religious and spiritual expressions within human communities, and that this can best be achieved through a worldview shift within the United Nations systems.

Religious engagement in the United Nations systems has been understandably constrained by limited and formal organizational structures and conventions.

However, the existing patterns of engagement mitigate against the very goals they seek to achieve. Contributing authors demonstrate how communities become stronger when marginalized minority voices are included in public discourse. The editors further argue that governance has a responsibility to ensure a safe environment for this interaction and propose that the United Nations adopt the posture of “loyal opposition”, that is inherent in parliamentary democracies, to serve as a guideline for expanded religious engagement. The contributors advance this proposal with illustrations from multiple contexts that address a diverse array of social problems from perspectives rooted in theory and practice.

To celebrate the publication and discuss the findings of the book, a conversation between editors and contributors will be hosted on 24 June at 10:00 – 12:00 pm EST.

Objectives

1. Highlight the efforts of the contributors and the editors of this timely book
2. Support efforts to better involve religious leaders in diplomatic discussions
3. Strengthen multi-religious collaboration within the formal structures of the UN systems
4. Showcase the impact of multi-religious collaboration in the international diplomatic arena
5. Demonstrate the engagement strategies highlighted in this volume

Religions for Peace (RfP) advances common action among the world’s religious communities for a comprehensive, holistic and sustainable peace. The RfP movement, through its 90 national and 6 regional Inter-religious Councils (IRCs) and their Women of Faith Networks and Inter-religious Youth Networks, engages in key issues of critical concern, within its six Strategic Goals: Promote peaceful, just & harmonious societies; Advance gender equality; Nurture a sustainable environment; Champion freedom of thought, conscience & religion; Strengthen inter-religious education; and Foster multi-religious collaboration & global partnerships.

24 June 2021 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm EST | Register here