Why were the Religious Freedom Awards created?

The Religious Freedom Awards were born in 2014 in Madrid, conceived by the President of the Church of Scientology of Spain. They arose from the realisation that no similar award existed for the promotion and defence of Religious Freedom. In 2015 they came under the responsibility of the Foundation for the Improvement of Life, Culture and Society.

Both the Spanish Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations exalt the need for Religious Freedom in all its forms. Individual and collective awareness of the existence of the human being is linked to the search for the origin and reason of creation.

With this Award, we recognise the work of those people or institutions who have shown over the years their struggle and perseverance in the defence of Religious Freedom — even of beliefs they did not themselves share — and whose actions have brought human beings closer to that long-sought goal of full Religious Freedom.

The “Religious Freedom Awards” prize is presented in the form of a Tizona sword, forged in Toledo.

We must admit that, of all the weapons invented by humankind, none has achieved the esoteric and mysterious symbolism of the Sword. The sword appears with the Age of Metals, approximately in the 4th millennium BC.

Both in prehistoric times and today, across different religions as well as popular folklore. One only has to look at the various sword dances found in most cultures to realise that the sword carries a similar spiritual meaning, and a magical mission in fighting the dark forces. This spiritual weapon symbolises the defence of peace and order through the authority granted by reason.

But the sword also has a deeper, esoteric symbolism that becomes magical — if we understand as magical the ability of an object to transmute and transform a person’s inner self. The Archetype of the Sword is the one most in tune with human nature and essence, as an extension of the individual, an expansion of the active will, and for this reason it has been and is the physical representation of the Honour and Dignity of the Knight defending the Light against the Darkness.

Further meanings of the sword

For Alfonso X the Wise, the sword symbolises the virtues of prudence, fortitude, temperance and justice. Prudence calls for good judgement. Fortitude is the virtue that makes a person stand firm in the face of danger. Temperance is calmness of spirit. Justice means applying it rightly and letting oneself be guided by it.

 

For more information, visit the page dedicated to the Awards, where you will find all the winners since the first edition, photos, and even articles on the subject of freedom of religion and conscience.

www.religiousfreedom.es