Religion is a salient and ambivalent feature in many conflicts and its growing and intensified manifestation of religion in politics and vice versa is part of the environment of ICRC operations. The tension between absolute belief in the divine and the historical nature of human existence influences the acceptance of both international law, including humanitarian law, and humanitarian action. Various articles in the present issue of the Review show the importance of religion in these fields on the tightrope between bigotry and indifference.