Argentina – host of the 2018 G20 global forum – is to face a general strike as the G20 Interfaith Forum is set to begin. The 5th annual G20 Interfaith Forum (a side event in advance of the official G20 meetings) comes at a critical time for the Argentinian economy as unions in the country announced a general strike for 24-25 September in opposition to expected sweeping austerity measures being developed by the government and the International Monetary Fund.

Protesters took to the streets in Buenos Aires this week, warning of extreme hardship for families already hit by spiralling inflation, prior to the return of an IMF mission to negotiate a possible rescheduling of disbursements from the Fund’s $50 billion loan.

Does faith have a role in addressing the crisis?

High level panel of CEOs will discuss how faith within the business sector makes for a more human economy

G20 Interfaith Forum — Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development: Religious Contributions for a Dignified Future

2018 G20 Interfaith Forum Program

G20 2018 Delegate Directory

G20 Interfaith Forum 2018 Flyer

葛百彦(Brian Grim)是美国宗教自由与企业基金会总裁,近年来曾多次访问本中心进行学术交流。如要了解宗教如何与美国资本主义社会相适应,如何在资本主义建设中发挥作用，可参考此文。

[内容提要] 本文概述了首个记录在案的、针对宗教对美国社会的经济价值的定量估算。具体而言，本研究提供了保守估算、中等估算和乐观估算。本研究最保守的估算，即仅着眼于基于信仰的组织，为每年3780亿美元，即超过万亿美元三分之一。从经济的视角来看，这一数字比全球两大科技巨头——苹果和微软——年收入的总和还要多。尽管此种估算具体数据最为翔实，我们认为它必然是一种低估，因为它关注的是年收入，而不是宗教组织提供的商品和服务的公平市价。我们的第二种估算，即中等估算，试图通过两种方式来纠正这种偏差：对宗教组织提供的商品和服务的公平市价进行估算，以及将有宗教渊源的企业的贡献考虑在内。这种中等估算认为宗教对美国社会的价值每年超过1万亿美元。我们的第三种估算，即乐观估算，承认信众的行为在某种意义上（尽管不完全）受到信仰理念的激发和指导。这种乐观估计基于具有宗教背景的美国人的家庭收入，并估计宗教对美国社会的价值为每年4.8万亿美元，相当于美国国内生产总值(GDP)的近1/3。最后，我们讨论了本研究的局限性，并指出了几种研究路径以供在本研究基础上加以拓展。

阅读更多

The Socio-economic Contribution of Religion to American Society: An Empirical Analysis

Brian J. Grim and Melissa E. Grim

Abstract

This article summarizes the first documented quantitative national estimates of the economic value of religion to U.S. society. Specifically, the study provides conservative, mid-range, and high estimates. The study’s most conservative estimate, which takes into account only the revenues of faith-based organizations, is $378 billion annually – or more than a third of a trillion dollars. By way of economic perspective, this is more than the global annual revenues of tech giants Apple and Microsoft combined. While this first estimate has the most concrete data, we believe that it is certainly an undervaluation because it focuses on annual revenues rather than on the fair market value of the goods and services religious organizations provide. Our second mid-range estimate attempts to correct for this in two ways: by providing an estimate of the fair market value of goods and services provided by religious organizations, and by including the contribution of businesses with religious roots. This mid-range estimate puts the value of religion to U.S. society at over $1 trillion annually. Our third, higher-end estimate recognizes that people of faith conduct their affairs to some extent (however imperfectly) inspired and guided by their faith ideals. This higher-end estimate is based on the household incomes of religiously affiliated Americans, and places the value of faith to U.S. society at $4.8 trillion annually, or the equivalent of nearly a third of America’s gross domestic product (GDP). Finally, we discuss the limitations of this study and suggest several possible lines of research that could build upon and extend this research.

Read full article

by Brian Grim

This article is prepared for the G20 Interfaith Forum taking place 26-28 September, 2018, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in advance of the annual G20 meeting. Brian Grim will be moderating a panel on Religion and Business at the Forum on September 26. For more information, see https://www.g20interfaith.org/. 

Download pdf.

There is a strong and positive relationship between religious freedom and sustainable development as embodied in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit.

This relationship is important to understand because over the next twelve years, motivated by these new goals, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind. All sectors of society need to see how religious freedom contributes to these efforts.

Sustainable development has been defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future for people and planet. And eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

This article examines how religious freedom plays a part in achieving sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing inequalities, raising basic standards of living, fostering equitable social development and inclusion, and promoting integrated and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems.

How does religious freedom align with the sustainable development goals?

Ending Poverty

Religious freedom helps tackle “small-p” poverty through “self reliance”

Poverty, some argue, can only be effectively tackled by governments enforcing top-down, big-P Poverty reduction policies and programs. But a host of religious groups haven’t gotten the memo. Innovative faith-based initiatives worldwide are tackling poverty using bottom-up, small-p poverty alleviation approaches that empower individuals to be resourceful, resilient and self-reliant.

Indeed, a central aspect of religious freedom is that it gives faith groups license to innovate and contribute to the wellbeing of individuals, communities and nations. But where religious freedom is curtailed, so are such innovations. For instance, reform-minded Saudi princess Basmah bint Saud argues, religion “should not be a shield behind which we hide from the world but a driving force that inspires us to innovate and contribute to our surroundings.”

This first installment of an ongoing series on the connection between religious freedom and sustainable development describes these small-p initiatives and concludes with a case study of how one faith group is directly targeting and reducing poverty in its congregations worldwide. Such faith-based activities are facilitated by religious freedom and directly contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 – Ending poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Also see the related World Economic Forum Agenda article by Brian Grim and Linda Woodhead, Can religion make economic growth more fair?

Empowering Women

Brian Grim, President, Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, and Jo-Ann Lyon, General Superintendent, Wesleyan Church, explore how religious freedom contributes directly to women’s empowerment.

Religion is often seen as a barrier to gender parity. Stories abound of gender-based violence done in the name of religion. As a result, in many cases, the issues of religion and gender parity are often dismissed as too complicated to address. There appears to be no way to unwind this rather complex multi-institution.

However, a critical factor overlooked in this conversation is religious freedom. Unless there is religious freedom, minority groups, including women, will not be at the table and their vital, productive and creative voices will not be heard. Corporations and economies will suffer if they miss out on the contribution of women. The denial of religious freedom contributes to gender inequality throughout the world.

Extremist ideologies such as ISIS represent the complete loss of religious freedom, and when respect for a diversity of religious beliefs and practices disappears, gender equality suffers.

Fostering Peace

A global study challenges myth of religious violence. The research found no general causal relationship between religion and conflict when looking at all of the current conflicts in the world.

The study, conducted by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) in conjunction with the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, aims to get beyond ideology to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how religion interacts with peace.

Quantitative analysis has revealed that many of the commonly made statements surrounding the relationship between peace and religion are not supported by the analysis contained in this study.

Find a Better Job for Refugees

The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s Empowerment+ Initiative is reaching out to the fringes in Manchester, UK – to refugees and asylum seekers.

A ten-week training course, Find a Better Job,* was delivered to a small group of four participants at the Cornerstone Day Centre for Refugees, a project of Caritas of the Catholic diocese of Salford. The group comprised of one Catholic and three Muslim participants who successfully completed their training in July 2018.

The group was coordinated by Amir Raki (Caritas staff, pictured with participants and facilitators) and Hinna Maluch (Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s Empowerment+ Coordinator), and facilitated by a couple from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Alan and Janeth Dudley, who delighted in the group, “Even though we come from Canada, which prides itself on being multicultural, we had never experienced such diverse cultures as in the Manchester area. It was a highlight of our week to serve in Cornerstone and to feel the love that is so prominent.”

One of the participants, Raouf Malik said, ‘It was a great experience to be part of employability course in the UK. It merged the aspect of faith and hard work to deliver better results. I got the principle of networking – how to deal with people to achieve our goal’.

The Cornerstone team along with Amir Raki, Refugee Response Coordinator from Caritas Salford, supported us to pilot Find a Better Job for refugee group at Cornerstone Centre. Having observed the ten-week journey of the group Amir said,

“Find a Better Job course is a thought-provoking training, unlike other employability courses I had previously attended as university student, where the course providers mostly emphasized on their scientific and academia based evidence. Find a Better Job links up with religious books, scriptures and prominent faith leaders who have devised similar concepts, decades before academic syllabus or technical training came into existence.”

Amir further added, “I believe Find a Better Job reintroduces us to faith as a great practical resource beyond worship and prayer even in our modern life issues which guide us through very mundane aspects of our lives in a down-to-earth fashion.”

“I realized that the benefit of our group meetings was not only to help us to Find a better job, but also to understand our weaknesses, which was so helpful for me in learning the skill. During the course, I recognized the neglected aspects of my life and learnt their importance, for instance the use of ‘Me in 30 seconds’ and understanding the formula of success, ‘Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success’,” says participant Cyrille (pictured).

The Empowerment+ toolkit is indeed important for the personal development of refugees and asylum seekers, especially as they embark their journey to integration and settling in the UK. 

“As an asylum seeker you are laden with endless restrictions, which damages your self-esteem and capabilities for so long,” said Hinna Maluch, Empowerment+ Coordinator.

“Working with the members of the Find a Better Job group, whose lives are mainly in the hands of others but who are eager to learn, has been enlightening and satisfying,” said Hinna. “As they learn skills that increase their ability to communicate their value to employers, it gives them hope of a better future.”

“Each one is eager to grow, progress, become more productive and, just as important, to assist each other in that process,” said Alan and Janeth (Group Facilitators).

“I would strongly recommend Find a Better Job to other Cornerstone members to really take part in it as it’s so important and will help you to get confident for your long term career plan,” exclaimed Cyrille.

Learn more about Empowerment+. 

Find a Better Job is made possible by a license granted to the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help produce and distribute an interfaith version of a successful self-reliance and empowerment program they have successfully pioneered worldwide.

3 key takeaways from this week’s first-of-its-kind State Department religious freedom event 

By Kelsey Dallas

“At every event, there were senior U.S. government leaders and State Department officials,” said Brian Grim, president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation.

Grim described attending a discussion led by Sam Brownback, the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, and John Sullivan, who serves as deputy secretary of state under Pompeo. The two men offered some comments and then turned over the microphone to the audience for comments, questions and recommendations.

“We had the number two guy in the State Department listening and taking notes on what people are seeing,” said Grim, who has led and attended religious freedom conferences around the world.

Vice President Mike Pence, Ambassador Nikki Haley and Mick Mulvaney, who directs the Office of Management and Budget, also spoke at ministerial events. Read full article …

‘Religious freedom good for business’ – Brian Grim

By Devin Watkins, Vatican News

Religious freedom “creates a business climate that is good for pretty much all business except bullet and bomb makers,” Brian Grim tells participants in the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom hosted by the US Department of State.

The US State Department is hosting an international summit on the topic of religious freedom.

Dr. Brian Grim, President and founder of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, is a speaker at the event taking place on July 24-26 in Washington, D.C. He spoke to Devin Watkins about his message for the 80 foreign ministers and governmental representatives in attendance.

Dr. Grim said he told them that religious freedom has strong ties with sustainable development.

“It’s associated with other human rights, and it creates a business climate that is good for pretty much all business, except bullet and bomb makers,” he said. … Continue reading (or listening)

July 25, Washington, DC

At the first-ever Ministerial to advance religious freedom hosted by US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, Brian Grim, President of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, will make the business case for religious freedom at the July 25th gathering of delegates from some 80 nations.

Grim will be joined by Aleem Walji, CEO, Aga Khan Foundation USA. They will discuss how greater religious freedom supports open markets and economic growth and how religious freedom allows faith communities to support sustainable development and economic prosperity.

Grim will also lay out how religious freedom contributes to a strong economy, which in turn contributes to a nation’s security at a side event at the Religious Freedom Center at the Freedom Forum Institute/Newseum at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 27. This session is free and open to the public.

→ See RFBF Ministerial landing page for full details.

Among the 25 most populous countries, Egypt, Russia, India, Indonesia and Turkey have the most restrictions on religion, while Japan, Brazil, the Philippines, the Dem. Rep. of the Congo and the U.S. have the fewest restrictions.

Click to see how restrictions have changed in each country since 2007. Read the full report.

Even before the networks created by China’s massive economic Belt and Road, Chinese missionaries were heading abroad as part of the Back to Jerusalem Movement. Will China see them as local knowledge resources or something else? See related article by Jeremy Luedi.

Article by Jeremy Luedi (published in The Diplomat):

Aided by the networks created by the Belt and Road, Chinese missionaries are heading abroad, much to Beijing’s dismay.

At a time when their compatriots back home are dynamiting churches that have mushroomed across the country, Chinese construction companies are winning contracts to build churches across Africa. The economies of scale and other logistical advantages which Chinese firms enjoy in other sectors are being carried over to church construction. “China is now winning contracts to build churches because its corporations out-bid those from elsewhere,” notes Jesse Mugambi, professor of religious studies and philosophy at the University of Nairobi.

Not only is officially atheist China building houses of worship across Africa, its mega-corporations are also playing a vital role in spreading the good news — literally. Despite Beijing’s own misgivings about religion and proselytization, it appears to have no qualms in supplying the rest of the world with religious literature. One-quarter of all the Bibles printed worldwide are printed in China, and the world’s largest Bible printing factory opened in Nanjing in 2008.

Within Africa, China plays an even greater role, as the PRC supplies a substantial portion of the bibles used in the continent. For instance, some three-quarters of Bibles used in Kenya are printed in China. While it seems bizarre, China’s mass production of Bibles is merely a logical extension of its export-centric economic paradigm. Ironically, these mass-produced Chinese Bibles are finding their way into the hands of overseas Chinese, increasing numbers of whom are embracing religion.

Continue reading full article on The Diplomat …

Business for Peace DECLARATION on North Korea North Korea

If the geo-political situation allows, can business play a role for peace?

Prepared by H.E. Philip McDonagh, former Irish Ambassador to India, Holy See, Finland, Russia, OSCE, and represented Ireland in the Northern Ireland Peace Process; also, senior fellow, Princeton University

Business initiatives in support of rapprochement on the Korean peninsula (Kaesong Industrial Zone, Kumgangsan tourism) are suspended as a result of North Korea’s weapons programme and international sanctions including those imposed by the UN Security Council.

The current ‘Olympic Truce’ appears to have been accompanied by an indirect indication from Pyongyang that it is willing to halt for now the further development of its missile and nuclear programme: this can be inferred from announcements that the deterrent is now in place.

International precedent suggests that the peaceful resolution of any situation of crisis requires three conditions to be fulfilled:

• — recognition of the need and the opportunity;
• — a step-by-step process accompanied by confidence-building measures;
• — a vision of the ‘peace dividend’ that could follow once the crisis is overcome

Business is an essential part of any multi-stakeholder approach to peacebuilding and can play a role in relation to each these points.

First, business actors can lobby the UN and individual governments to support every effort at dialogue on the Korean peninsula, in order to find new ways of overcoming the current danger.

Second, business can contribute to the policy debate about the shape and content of a future step-by-step process. For example, business operates across borders and can advocate for (i) a strong regional and international dimension to any peace process; (ii) economic confidence-building measures such as respecting different social systems in the context of economic cooperation: and (iii) a comprehensive approach to future peacebuilding taking economic and environmental issues into account.

Third, business can help to make the ‘peace dividend’ more real in people’s minds by beginning to envisage projects and investments that might come on stream under improved geopolitical conditions.

The draft declaration annexed below follows the example of the 1991 Agreement between South and North and a number of leading contemporary commentators in applying ‘lessons learned’ in the CSCE (‘Helsinki’) process of the 1970s.

DECLARATION

We the participants in the Global Business & Interfaith Peace Symposium:

• — fully respecting the legal framework established by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions
• — welcoming the Olympic Truce between Seoul and Pyongyang and the opportunity for contact across the demarcation line
• — recalling previous frameworks for dialogue including the Six-Party Talks and the Agreement on Reconciliation, Non-Aggression, and Exchanges and Cooperation
• — conscious of the current danger and the responsibility that falls on all actors to avoid conflict and sow seeds of hope and progress

Agree as follows:

1. 1. We will use our influence in support of every effort at dialogue aimed at discerning new ways of overcoming the current disputes
2. 2. We will advocate for a common peace in Asia in the form of a step-by-step, inclusive, and comprehensive process based, first, on agreed principles; and second, on measured, parallel progress on security and arms control, humanitarian issues, and economic development
3. 3. We commit to a peace dividend and will work towards projects of high value and visibility to come on stream on the Korean peninsula once the necessary security guarantees are in place
4. 4. We stand ready to support a new Asia-Pacific Initiative – a team of experts to reach out to policymakers, parliamentarians, and academic institutions with a view to developing policy ideas within a fixed time-frame for a possible future conference on security and cooperation in East Asia

Meet the Business for Peacemakers