Purpose:  The purpose of the Freedom of Faith blog is to promote the free expression of faith issues worldwide and to eliminate as many barriers to such freedom as possible.

Basis:  The United Nations recognized the importance of freedom of religion or belief in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.  This right shall include freeom to have a religion or whatever belief of his/her choice."

Plan:
1. Subsequent issues will reveal the progress that has been made and is being made to insure that faith freedoms become a reality. 
2.  We will focus on different examples in each issue of people whose freedoms have been denied and examples of progress.
3.  We will suggest how readers can take positive action to promote freedom of faith.

History:  I am a product of the Free Speech era.  I went through college and worked on campus during the sixties and seventies when students and staff were free to express and investigate whatever philosophical, political, and faith issues that came to mind.  It was common to encounter several speakers on various corners just going to class.  Debates were encouraged as were information tables.  The student unions were centers for various organizations to pass out literature, meet, and promote their various ideas.  Every group published their own literature and passed it out while students would pass by.  It was common to encounter the SDS, YSA, Black Panthers, John Birch Society, Campus Crusade, Baptist Student Union, etc. just on the way to lunch.  The faculty prided itself in allowing open expression of various views.  If a student disagreed with a position taken by a professor, the student could request the opportunity to present an opposing position or have someone else speak in their behalf.  Numerous times I was asked to make such a presentation for a student who wanted their position represented.

In such an atmosphere of openness, we were free to investigate all kinds of faiths, political positions, and social mores.  That is just what I did.  I went to hundreds of meetings, read tons of literature, and spoke to the representatives of all kinds of groups and finally laid the foundations for the rest of my life based on my evaluation of the information I received.  It has been an exciting adventure and I hope that the door remains open for all people to have such freedom of investigation.

That is why I'm excited about lauching Freedom of Faith.