The human capabilities approach seeks to articulate rights in terms of the conditions necessary for the development and refinement of human capacities. From the perspective of psychological science and the world’s religious traditions, human capacities may be understood as being grounded in notions of the “human spirit” and may be reflected in the proclivity to create, seek knowledge of the self and the world, and engage in moral and/or spiritual striving. In the arena of international human rights, freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) – an important expression of the human spirit – has been clearly established as a universal right. Thus, in a converging view, human rights law and policy may be most effective when they also advocate for the creation of the conditions necessary for the realization of our full humanity, including the moral and spiritual dimensions of human capacity. Given modern conditions of globalization and interdependence, which urgently demand workable, bridging approaches among diverse groups, cultivation of such shared interests and understandings may prove vital. We examine FoRB as one example of an area in which psychological, religious, and rights-based approaches can be mutually reinforcing and ultimately conducive to human flourishing.