"The process of communication between individuals and institutions was central to the formation of the World Council of Churches in 1948. Yet communication is often taken for granted, being understood as a tool to advance the organizational objectives of ecumenical organizations. Only on occasions h ... as the ecumenical movement in its organized expressions engaged in intentional reflection on the theological, societal and ecumenical challenges posed by communication." (Abstract) more

"From a rights-based perspective, on the one hand communications professionals and organizations have a public duty to represent religion in an as objective way as possible. On the other hand, States and governments have an obligation to ensure that their own structures do not unduly influence or pr ... event the free expression of views via the mass media. Historically, States have often strenuously objected to citizens expressing religious convictions that differ from the body politic, to organizing as communities in order to promote a religion or belief, and to acting in accordance with the dictates of their conscience in cases where domestic legal systems require uniform behaviour irrespective of a divergence of belief. The kernel of the problem concerning freedom of thought, conscience and religion is not the right itself (the freedom of an inner state of mind), but its outward display and affirmation. These are issues directly related to other human rights and, in this sense, freedom of conscience is evidence that human rights cannot be protected in isolation from each other. Schisms and bitter struggles within the same faith tradition, or between different faith traditions, are usually founded on theological disputes. But, religious disputes also have political, cultural, and often, as a result, ethnic implications. Until recently it was difficult to divorce Church and State, the two often being synonymous. France has a century-long tradition of separating both, but that has not served to lessen recent tensions in relation to Islam, while Turkey is an example of a “secular State” in which religion still plays a leading role." (Editorial, page 2) more