Why Love Belongs in Business: Advancing Religious Freedom
By Brian Grim
From Hong Kong to Washington DC, I’ve had the chance these weeks to see how businesses and faith communities turn compassion into action that transforms lives and advances religious freedom for all. With Christmas approaching, it’s reinforced what’s central to human flourishing.
Christmas reminds us of what matters most: love. Even in secular culture, this truth resonates. The #1 most searched Christmas movie in America is Love Actually. For people of faith, love is not just a feeling; it is a commandment. Jesus taught that the greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbor. In the parable of the Good Samaritan — who was a foreigner with a foreign religion — love was not shown by preaching to the wounded man left for dead on the roadside. It was shown through mercy, compassion, and practical help: binding wounds, providing shelter, and ensuring care. True religious freedom is the freedom to put this love into action.
This vision underpins a positive, entrepreneurial approach to advancing religious freedom—one that sees business as a force for good.
In Taiwan and Hong Kong, I witnessed inspiring examples of this principle in action. The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation demonstrates how mercy, technology, and business can work together to serve humanity. Their commitment to sustainability shines through Da Ai Technologies, which transforms recycled materials into products that fund charitable work and make love practical.
Tzu Chi also convenes multi-faith dialogue on technology, as seen in a Hong Kong forum where I spoke alongside leaders from diverse belief backgrounds.
I also met leaders at the Mekong Club, which helps businesses combat modern slavery — a powerful example of business advancing freedom.
I visited Hong Kong’s growing Catholic community, whose members serve in many ways including as doctors in Gaza, living out faith through service.
My trip concluded with a keynote at American Airlines’ Christian Employee Business Resource Group (CEBRG) leaders meeting, where we explored how companies can care for people on life’s journey. Their commitment to the contributions of faith was seen not only in senior leadership participation, but the fact that they flew CEBRG leaders from across the U.S. and world for the one-day meeting.
As Christmas approaches, join this important conversation on faith in the workplace.
Looking ahead, these themes will shape our Dare to Overcome 2026 conference in Washington, D.C., keynoted by Equinix EMEA President Bruce Owen. His keynote will explore how embracing spiritual values and freedom of belief in the workplace can catalyze innovation, resilience, and ethical leadership.
Student internships applications are open, and nominations for the Global Business & Interfaith Peace Awards are live.
The greatest potential for advancing religious freedom lies in businesses and faith communities turn compassion into action that transforms lives and advances religious freedom for all—because when love becomes action, freedom flourishes.