The International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) is the world’s oldest international interfaith organization, founded in Boston in 1900 under the original name International Council of Unitarian and Other Liberal Religious Thinkers and Workers. Emerging from the spirit of the 1893 World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, the organization was established to promote religious freedom, liberal theology, and dialogue among different faith traditions.
Unitarians played a foundational role in the creation and early leadership of the IARF. Over time, the organization evolved into a broader interfaith movement involving Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Humanists, and representatives of many other religious communities, while maintaining strong historical connections to the international Unitarian tradition.
Hungarian and Transylvanian Unitarians have held a particularly important place within the history of the IARF. The Hungarian Unitarian Church of Transylvania — rooted in the historical tradition of the 1568 Edict of Torda and freedom of conscience — has long been recognized as one of the historic centers of global Unitarianism. Representatives from Transylvania and Hungary participated actively in international liberal religious cooperation throughout the 20th century and became an important part of the wider IARF community.
Following the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, the relationship between the IARF and the Hungarian Unitarian Church became even more active through new partnerships, exchanges, conferences, and international cooperation. Leaders from Transylvania contributed significantly to global Unitarian dialogue and interfaith collaboration during this period.
Today, the relationship between the IARF and Hungarian and Transylvanian Unitarians continues to reflect a shared commitment to freedom of conscience, human dignity, interfaith dialogue, and peaceful cooperation across cultures and religions.
For more information about the International Association for Religious Freedom and its global activities, please visit the official IARF website: https://iarf.net/