When a former U.S. president's son, Ron Reagan, contended at the Democratic National Convention in Boston last month that "the theology of a few is harming the health of the many," he could have been speaking about global AIDS rather than stem-cell research.

At the 15th International AIDS Congress in Bangkok, it was evident that theological taboos have contributed to the escalating HIV/AIDS crisis. At a time when more than 40 million worldwide are infected, nearly 50 percent of them women, the religious roots of this disease must be examined to determine how the theological thinking of some has caused widespread harm to many.

These theological taboos include not talking openly about sex, preventing people from understanding how to prevent the disease. Second, moralistic judgments toward infected persons and their families have added to society's stigmatization. Third, religious prejudice toward sex workers, injection-drug users, gay men and others has contributed to discrimination. Silence, stigma and discrimination keep people from getting tested and treated.

"The theology of a few" has unfortunately long influenced many religious responses to the world's worst health crisis. Patriarchal religious assumptions have made women especially vulnerable. Endless controversies over the efficacy of condoms have helped deny people the least expensive "weapon of mass protection" available. In many countries, married women and young girls are endangered because they lack education and control of their own sex lives.

Some religious communities have done pioneering work in the battle against HIV and AIDS, but often their sacrificial service has been obscured by the publicity given to the religious right's twisted theology claiming that "AIDS is the punishment of God." This has prompted people to embrace a theology of condemnation rather than compassion, indifference rather than involvement. Instead of offering a theology of hope and health, faith-based groups sometimes have become missionaries of death, not life.

Twenty plus years into the pandemic, faith-based groups belatedly emerged at this year's conference demonstrating their willingness to participate in positive partnership with others engaged in efforts at education, prevention, care and treatment. Never before had people of faith from the world's major religions met together to face the world escalation of the AIDS pandemic -- a confluence that Dr. Peter Piot, UNAIDS executive director, said sketched a vision of his hopes.

Piot declared, "I hope for a day when every church engages in an open dialogue on issues of sexuality and gender difference. I hope for a day when every synagogue will mobilize as advocates for a global response to find AIDS, when every temple will fully welcome people living with HIV, where every mosque is a place where young people will learn about the facts of HIV and

AIDS."

"When that will have happened," concluded Piot, "I am convinced that nothing will stop our success in our fight against AIDS."

Piot's audience, however, knew that this day has not yet dawned, primarily because a "theology of a few" continues to dominate the hierarchical leadership of many faith communities.

I have argued that the "theology of the few" dare not continue to dominate either religious responses or government policy. Faith-based groups - - Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or Hindu -- share common core values of compassion, love and human dignity. Embedded in all the great religions is sacred text equivalent to the Torah's promise that "when you save the life of one person, you save the world."

Just as attitudinal and behavioral change are essential steps in AIDS prevention for individuals, it is imperative that faith-based groups change certain beliefs and behavior so they can provide a message of hope, services of loving care and a theology of life.