Censorship is a Religious Freedom Issue

Banned Books Week is currently taking place from September 22-28, 2024. It’s a critical moment to celebrate the freedom to read and confront censorship. Launched in 1982 in response to a surge in challenges to books, this annual event brings together librarians, educators, authors, booksellers, and readers to defend open access to information. Book banning has become a potent symbol of broader cultural and political conflicts, often targeting marginalized communities. In 2024, these efforts are intensifying, making Banned Books Week more relevant than ever.

We are grateful to see the reintroduction of a bicameral resolution condemning book bans, led by Representative Jamie Raskin and Senator Brian Schatz this week. 

Interfaith Alliance endorsed the resolution and our President Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush was quoted in the official press release. “Censorship is a religious freedom issue — book banning is a political strategy that could silence diverse religious voices and traditions that are a major part of the rich social fabric of America,” he said. “Sadly, many who want to ban books use religion as their excuse to target LGBTQIA+ voices, communities of color, and many others. In fact, most people of faith and conscience in this country oppose these harmful efforts – and stand firmly behind the right to read.” Interfaith Alliance stands firmly with the right to read, emphasizing that most people of faith oppose these harmful efforts.

In December 2023, Florida Representative Maxwell Frost, the first Generation Z member of Congress, introduced the Fight Book Bans Act to address the rising tide of book bans in schools by providing federal funding to districts facing censorship challenges. This important legislation has gained support from 86 co-sponsors, reflecting a strong coalition dedicated to safeguarding educational freedom. Interfaith Alliance’s President, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, emphasized that this act is a crucial response to the coordinated efforts of Christian nationalists to suppress diverse perspectives in education, advocating for the protection of students’ rights and access to inclusive literature. The Interfaith Alliance actively supported the drafting of the legislation and participated in the press conference to endorse its goals.

Interestingly, the Bible has found itself caught in the debate over book bans. In 2015, the American Library Association listed it among the top 10 most challenged books, due to its "religious viewpoints." Despite being a foundational text for millions, the Bible’s inclusion on the list highlights the complexity of censorship. 

Here’s how The Week reported on the issue:

While "not frequent," this "kind of challenge where there's criticism with the contents of the Bible, in response to an effort to remove other books from the library on the same grounds, is something we've seen in the past," Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, said. It's "a reaction to efforts to ban so many books" across the country, Jonathan Friedman, the director of the Free Expression and Education program for the free speech advocacy group PEN America, agreed.

The ongoing fight against book bans is about much more than literature. It’s about the right to explore diverse ideas, challenge societal norms, and access information without political interference. 

As we celebrate Banned Books Week in 2024, we must remain vigilant against efforts to silence voices, whether through claims of obscenity or religious orthodoxy. At its core, Banned Books Week serves as a reminder that the right to read is inseparable from the right to think freely.

Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons is the Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy and Tranée McDonald is the Policy & Advocacy Associate at Interfaith Alliance.