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Nootbaar Institute Hosted International Religious Freedom Conference

Pepperdine’s Herbert and Elinor Nootbaar Institute on Law, Religion, and Ethics hosted the conference, “A Call for International Religious Freedom” on Friday, February 25, in Malibu, California. The keynote speakers were Suzan Johnson-Cook and Representative Frank Wolf.

The conference discussed how religious clashes are becoming more and more prevalent throughout the world, and the conference examined the growing need for tolerance between faiths, particularly as the Muslim and Christian worlds collide.

“In recent years, the world has watched the brutal clashes between religions in Jos, Nigeria, and Orissa, India,” said Bob Cochran, director of the Nootbaar Institute. “We have heard, firsthand, the stories of the persecution of house churches in China, the Baha’is in Iran, and the recent bombings of Coptic Christian churches in Egypt. There is growing concern over the lack of tolerance between faiths, particularly as the Muslim and Christian and secular worlds collide.”

The thirteen conference speakers included people who have worked for religious freedom in government positions, for NGOs, and as private citizens.

Johnson-Cook is president and CEO of Charisma Speakers and is an author, minister, and advisor. She was nominated by President Barack Obama to be ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. She has experience in the ministry and leading delegations to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.

Wolf represents the 10th District of Virginia, and is serving in his 16th term in Congress. He is cochair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, a bipartisan organization of Congress who works together to raise awareness about international human rights issues. Wolf sits on the Appropriations Committee and serves on the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee.

To learn more about the conference visit the Nootbaar Institute.