Interfaith Coexistence in the Age of Intelligence: A NAVI Analysis

Neutral Analytical Vigilance Institute (NAVI)
Science Abbey Global Intelligence Initiative
Policy Brief — For Government, Civil Society, and International Institutions

Executive Summary

Religious diversity is a permanent feature of modern civilization. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and emerging secular worldviews such as Integrated Humanism shape the beliefs and behaviors of more than 8 billion people.

While doctrinal disagreements often dominate public discourse, the real-world implications of religious pluralism fall squarely within the domains of security, governance, intelligence analysis, and global stability.

This NAVI brief evaluates:

Shared ethical foundations that support social cohesion
Points of tension that can escalate into security risks
Systemic vulnerabilities within pluralistic societies
Governance frameworks capable of sustaining peaceful coexistence
Strategic recommendations for governments, NGOs, and international bodies

1. Global Context: Religion as a Security Variable

Religion remains one of the most powerful identity systems on Earth:

84% of the global population adheres to a religious tradition
Religious identity intersects with nationalism, ethnicity, and political power
Conflicts in the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and the West often contain religious dimensions
Authoritarian regimes regularly instrumentalize religion
Technologically amplified misinformation fuels radicalization

In this environment, interfaith coexistence is not merely a cultural ideal—it is a pillar of domestic security and international stability.

2. Core Values Across Traditions: The Overlapping Consensus

Despite doctrinal differences, major world religions share moral principles that directly strengthen social cohesion and reduce security risk:

Shared Ethical Factors (empirically stabilizing):

Compassion
Justice and fairness
Charity
Community care
Ethical self-discipline
Non-harm
Reverence for life
The pursuit of knowledge
Recognition of interdependence

NAVI classifies these as Civic-Stabilizing Ethical Convergences (CSEC).
When emphasized, CSECs reduce extremist recruitment potential, lower community tension, and build resilience against radicalization.

3. Points of Difference: Neutral Analysis of Security-Relevant Divergences

While shared ethics offer stability, differences among traditions can become security flashpoints when manipulated:

A. Sources of Authority

Scriptural absolutism vs. scientific or secular interpretations
Competing claims to infallibility
Diverging definitions of truth

Security risk: Authoritarian religious movements can exploit absolutism to justify exclusion or violence.

B. Identity and Boundary Definitions

Chosen people
Saved vs. unsaved
Believer vs. unbeliever
Caste, lineage, or cultural identity

Security risk: Boundary-based identities increase susceptibility to “othering,” a precursor to violence.

C. The Role of Religion in Government

Theocracy
Established religion
Secular democracy
Hybrid or contested systems

Security risk: When a state favors one worldview, polarization and repression rise.

D. Metaphysics and Ultimate Allegiance

Allegiance to God or gods
Allegiance to the nation
Allegiance to human rights
Allegiance to empirical truth

Security risk: Conflicts arise when ultimate allegiances compete—especially when political factions weaponize metaphysics.

4. Systemic Vulnerabilities in Interfaith Societies

NAVI classifies vulnerabilities into four categories:

1. Structural Vulnerabilities

Weak separation of religion and state
Unclear or inconsistent legal protections
Unequal access to justice
Fragmented civil institutions

2. Cognitive Vulnerabilities

Misinformation
Conspiracy theories
Doctrinal absolutism
Emotional manipulation

3. Communal Vulnerabilities

Segregated communities
Minimal intergroup contact
Religious echo chambers
Politicized clergy or influencers

4. Technological Vulnerabilities

Algorithmic radicalization
Targeted disinformation
AI-generated sectarian propaganda
Unregulated digital communities

These vulnerabilities are predictors of religious conflict, not theological differences themselves.

5. Governance Frameworks for Interfaith Stability

NAVI recommends a multi-layered governance approach grounded in evidence, human rights, and neutral intelligence.

A. Constitutional Principles

Freedom of belief and non-belief
Secular, impartial legal structures
Equal civic rights for all citizens
Scientific standards in public policy

B. Institutional Infrastructure

Independent interfaith councils with no legislative authority
Civic education emphasizing critical thinking and media literacy
Universal rights protections via civil institutions, not religious bodies
Non-sectarian public schools with optional comparative religion courses

C. Preventative Security Architecture

Early detection of extremist ideology (non-invasive, data-informed)
Rapid response to hate speech escalation
Transparency in religious funding
Monitoring of cross-border ideological influence
Cyber-intelligence for counter-radicalization

D. Social Cohesion Policies

Civic festivals celebrating pluralism
Shared service projects across worldviews
Dialogue programs guided by neutral facilitators
Cultural contracts in diverse cities

6. Strategic Recommendations

Based on NAVI’s global analysis, the following actions most effectively reduce interfaith tension:

For Governments

Maintain secular governance
Enforce equal protection laws consistently
Regulate extremist organizations and foreign influence
Protect minority religion rights
Require transparency in digital political/religious messaging
Prioritize science and human rights in civic policy

For Religious and Community Leaders

Emphasize shared ethical foundations over doctrinal supremacy
Publicly reject coercion, discrimination, and political domination
Cooperate across traditions for social benefit projects
Participate in depolarization efforts and community dialogue

For International Institutions (UN, OSCE, ASEAN, AU, EU)

Develop global standards for religious freedom
Support early-warning systems for sectarian conflict
Promote cross-border cooperation on digital radicalization
Fund civic education initiatives emphasizing global citizenship

For the Public

Practice media literacy
Engage in dialogue with people of other worldviews
Report early signs of extremist recruitment
Cultivate empathy through contemplative or reflective practices

7. Integrated Humanism: A Universal Framework for Interfaith Stability

Integrated Humanism offers a secular ethical common ground compatible with all peaceful traditions. It is not a competing religion, but a:

Human-rights framework
Scientific decision-making model
Compassion-based ethical system
Civic philosophy of coexistence

In the NAVI worldview, Integrated Humanism functions as the neutral civic platform that allows religious and secular people to live together without dominance, discrimination, or conflict.

Conclusion: The Future of Interfaith Security in a Global Civilization

Interfaith coexistence is not simply a matter of tolerance or cultural appreciation. It requires:

Robust governance
Neutral intelligence analysis
Scientific literacy
Universal human rights
A commitment to shared ethical values

As humanity enters the Age of Intelligence, pluralistic societies must develop systems capable of:

Preventing radicalization
Minimizing identity conflict
Protecting individual freedom
Promoting evidence-based public policy
Building resilient communities grounded in compassion and civic responsibility

Religion will remain a powerful force—but through scientific humanism, vigilant governance, and global cooperation, it can coexist peacefully with other worldviews in a shared, secure, and flourishing human future.

Bibliography — NAVI Interfaith Coexistence, Security, and Global Governance

Comparative Religion & Global Religious Demographics

Armstrong, Karen. The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions. New York: Knopf, 2006.

Armstrong, Karen. The Case for God. New York: Knopf, 2009.

Eliade, Mircea. Patterns in Comparative Religion. London: Harvill Press, 1958.

Pew Research Center. The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010–2050. Washington, D.C., 2015.

Pew Research Center. Global Restrictions on Religion: Annual Report. Washington, D.C., multiple years.

Smith, Huston. The World’s Religions. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1991.

Smart, Ninian. Worldviews: Crosscultural Explorations of Human Beliefs. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1995.

Human Rights, Pluralism, and Governance

An-Na’im, Abdullahi Ahmed. Islam and the Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Shari’a. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2008.

Anwar, Zafar, and Geneva Smitherman. Religion and Global Governance. London: Routledge, 2018.

Bielefeldt, Heiner, Nazila Ghanea, and Michael Wiener. Freedom of Religion or Belief: An International Law Commentary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.

Habermas, Jürgen. Between Naturalism and Religion: Philosophical Essays. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2008.

Hurd, Elizabeth Shakman. Beyond Religious Freedom: The New Global Politics of Religion. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2015.

United Nations. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). New York: United Nations, 1966.

United Nations. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. New York: United Nations, 1948.

Security Studies, Extremism, and Radicalization

Borum, Randy. “Radicalization into Violent Extremism I: A Review of Social Science Theories.” Journal of Strategic Security 4, no. 4 (2011): 7–36.

Neumann, Peter R. Radicalized: New Jihadists and the Threat to the West. London: I. B. Tauris, 2016.

Sageman, Marc. Understanding Terror Networks. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004.

Silke, Andrew, ed. The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism and Counterterrorism. London: Routledge, 2018.

Weinberg, Leonard, Ami Pedahzur, and Sivan Hirsch-Hoefler. Political Extremism and Radicalization in the “War on Terror.” London: Routledge, 2017.

Religion, Conflict, and Social Cohesion

Appleby, R. Scott. The Ambivalence of the Sacred: Religion, Violence, and Reconciliation. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000.

Gopin, Marc. Between Eden and Armageddon: The Future of World Religions, Violence, and Peacemaking. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Juergensmeyer, Mark. Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003.

Putnam, Robert D., and David E. Campbell. American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010.

Intergroup Psychology, Social Identity, and Polarization

Haidt, Jonathan. The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. New York: Pantheon, 2012.

Tajfel, Henri, and John Turner. “The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior.” In Psychology of Intergroup Relations, edited by Stephen Worchel and William G. Austin. Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1986.

Sherif, Muzafer. Intergroup Conflict and Cooperation: The Robbers Cave Experiment. Norman: University of Oklahoma Institute of Intergroup Relations, 1961.

Kende, Anna, and Michael A. Hogg. “Identity, Intergroup Relations, and Radicalization.” Annual Review of Psychology 71 (2020): 451–476.

Technology, Misinformation, and Digital Radicalization

Bradshaw, Samantha, and Philip N. Howard. “The Global Disinformation Order.” Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, 2019.

DiResta, Renée. Hearing the Call: Information Warfare, Disinformation, and Democracy. Stanford Internet Observatory, 2021.

Fukuyama, Francis, et al. Preserving Democracy in the Age of Information Disorder. Stanford Cyber Policy Center, 2020.

Vosoughi, Soroush, Deb Roy, and Sinan Aral. “The Spread of True and False News Online.” Science 359, no. 6380 (2018): 1146–1151.

Global Governance & Conflict Prevention

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Toledo Guiding Principles on Teaching about Religions and Beliefs in Public Schools. Warsaw: OSCE/ODIHR, 2007.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Preventing Violent Extremism Through Inclusive Development and the Promotion of Tolerance and Respect for Diversity. New York: UNDP, 2016.

World Bank. World Development Report 2011: Conflict, Security, and Development. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2011.

Humanism, Secular Ethics, and Science

Kurtz, Paul. The Transcendental Temptation: A Critique of Religion and the Paranormal. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1983.

Kurtz, Paul. Forbidden Fruit: The Ethics of Humanism. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1988.

Pinker, Steven. Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress. New York: Viking, 2018.

Wilson, Edward O. The Meaning of Human Existence. New York: W. W. Norton, 2014.

Integrated Humanism & NAVI Foundations (for contextual reference)

Smith, D. B. The Science Abbey Manifesto. Science Abbey, 2025.

Smith, D. B., Neutral Analytical Vigilance Institute (NAVI) Foundational Principles and Security Methodology. Science Abbey, 2025.

Smith, D. B. Integrated Humanism: A Secular Framework for Ethics, Governance, and Global Responsibility. Science Abbey, 2025.