FORGOTTEN
TEMPLE OF THE
SPIRITUAL RIGHTS
What are spiritual rights?
Spiritual rights can be understood as the fundamental entitlements of human beings to explore, express, connect with, and receive support for the spiritual dimension of life—irrespective of particular religious affiliation—so long as those rights do not infringe upon the human rights of others.
In this sense they extend beyond formal religious freedom to include access to spiritual care, community, meaning-making, inner life, and the conditions for spiritual flourishing.More concretely: the rights to seek, experience, express, and be supported in spiritual life; to participate or not in religious/spiritual traditions; to access spiritual care; to not be excluded from spiritual community or assistance because of one’s state of homelessness, marginalization, or non-traditional faith.
The Spiritual Rights of Human Beings
1. The right to explore what you believe and to do so freely, without obstruction or coercion.
2. The right to connect with whatever you hold sacred—divine, human, or natural—as long as it does not cause harm or prevent others from doing the same
3. The right not to be excluded, judged, or marginalized because of your beliefs, experiences, questions, or spiritual explorations.
4. The right to seek, experience, and express spirituality in ways that are authentic and meaningful to you.
5. The right to unfettered access to spiritual care, support, and presence—whether through community, chaplains, elders, or other trusted guides.
6. The right to gather in community for spiritual or religious expression.
7. The right to meaning-making—to wrestle with life’s deepest questions and to find peace, purpose, and connection in your own way.
8. The right to spiritual rest, renewal, and silence.
9. The right to dignity and respect in all matters of the spirit, regardless of faith tradition, background, or circumstance.