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Why We Need Religion More than Ever in the Pursuit of Peace

21/9/19
The proliferation of political crises and armed conflicts in every corner of the world does not exclude religious groups, which unfortunately also contribute to animosities, intolerance and hatred. The Middle East has been on the hit-list of violet extremist groups for decades.
One telling example is Syria where clashes have on occasion taken religious or denominational overtones, fracturing Syrian society for decades to come. They have given rise to sectarian divisions along ethnic and religious lines in a country where inter-religious harmony once prevailed. We observe a similar situation in Iraq.
In Myanmar, government security forces unleased a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing and hatred against the Muslim Rohingya population. The military crackdown on the Rohingya community has significantly aggravated inter-communal violence in the country.
And in the Central African Republic, armed militant groups sloganizing misrepresentations of Islam and Christianity, commit abuses and human rights violations on each other on a daily basis.
The conclusion that can be drawn is that the proliferation of political crises and armed conflicts indiscriminately target communities and societies regardless of religious beliefs or denominations. Violent extremism cannot be ascribed to one religion or region of the world. The recent appalling violent extremist attacks in Christchurch, Oslo and Colombo illustrate that violent extremism targets societies and communities blindly and where we least expect it to happen.
In a time where racism, racial discrimination intolerance and the fear of the other is on the rise, defusing inter-religious conflicts and enhancing understanding for religious diversity is needed more than ever.
In this spirit, inter-faith dialogue and cooperation remains an essential vehicle for religious believers to know, understand, and respect one another. Interreligious and religious-secular dialogues have the power to promote lasting change through a dialogue that fosters mutual coexistence, tolerance and empathy. This entails sharing a relationship of respect and mutual confidence as well as to identifying commonalities among religions, creeds and value systems in promoting multidimensional equalities, accepting diversity between human beings and promoting empathy. As His Holiness Pope Francis reminded us in Sarajevo in 2015 during his visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina:
"We need to communicate with each other, to discover the gifts of each person, to promote that which unites us, and to regard our differences as an opportunity to grow in mutual respect."
This is a telling reminder that interreligious dialogues can serve as a vector to help break down the walls of ignorance that characterize many societies around the world. There is a need to build alliances between all religions and faiths to address the surge of racial discrimination, intolerance and prejudice. The visit of Pope Francis to the United Arab Emirates in February this year, for instance, and the historical signing of the joint document on "Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together" between the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb are eloquent examples of endeavours made by religious leaders to promulgate a vision of unity in diversity.
It is likewise one of the greatest paradoxes of the contemporary world that major world faiths and creeds are being perverted by violent extremist groups to justify hatred and exclusion. All major world religions advocate peace and justice. The religious teachings of many traditions recognise that prevention of conflict in society by acceptance of the other is rooted in the dignity endowed to the human being. It is through unity -- not division -- that humanity can promote a world living in peace and harmony. All religions can play an important role.
Let me cite some examples.
Islam, for instance, puts strong emphasis on equality, proclaiming that all human beings are borne free and equal. During the era of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), he said to his followers:
"An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action."
In Judaism, equality before the law plays a strong role in the enhancement of human dignity, human conduct and responsibility towards one another. Sanhedrin 4:5 teaches us that "(…) none should say, (my) Father is greater than yours," for we are all descendants of the same ancestor.
In Christianity, we are taught in Galatians 3:28 that equality must guide our actions. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
The right to equality is also emphasised in Hinduism. The Vedas – the sacred scriptures of Hinduism - observe: "No one is superior or inferior. All are brothers and all should strive for the interest of all and progress collectively." So too in Budhism, as indeed Buddha taught a social message of love, equality and fraternity which underpin equal citizenship rights.
In Confucianism, the notion of "datong" or ‘Great Community' symbolizes a world in peace and unity in which all people live in harmony with each other, collective and individual human rights being affirmed and closely interwoven.
These examples illustrate that religions and faiths themselves are not the source of hatred and intolerance, but only their distorted instrumentalization for vested interests by violent extremist groups. One must therefore harness the collective energy of all religions and faiths in the pursuit of peaceful and inclusive societies as stipulated in Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. There is no reason for religious communities to fear one another as our commonalities clearly exceed our differences.
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All comments [ 20 ]


Duncan 21/9/19 21:29

over 21,000 people from all regions of the world most commonly rated religion as the “primary source of global conflict today.” Individuals identified power, economic factors, and political beliefs less frequently.

Jacky Thomas 21/9/19 21:30

how religion may contribute to conflict and what could be done within religions to better promote peace.

Egan 21/9/19 21:31

Allport made the critical observation that religious people vary considerably in how they approach religion.

Kevin Evans 21/9/19 21:32

there may be intrinsic aspects of religion that can promote conflict.

Enda Thompson 21/9/19 21:33

those who believed in God and the Bible were more likely to be violent when they read about God sanctioning the violence in a passage than when it withheld that information.

Robinson Jones 21/9/19 21:34

to the extent that religious extremists engage in prolonged, selective reading of the scriptures, focusing on violent retribution toward unbelievers instead of the overall message of acceptance and understanding, one might expect to see increased brutality.

Voice of people 21/9/19 21:35

Some religious groups are more likely to highlight differences across people, creating a stronger “us” vs. “them” dynamic.

Me Too! 21/9/19 21:36

in contrast to inclusive religions emphasizing respect and dialogue with others holding different beliefs, exclusive religions show absolutist beliefs they hold the “one” truth.

Socialist Society 21/9/19 21:37

part of what makes religion meaningful to some may also encourage conflict.

yobro yobro 21/9/19 21:38

Some of the most promising developments in religion today attempt to help individuals find both the meaningfulness of strong faith and promote the peace that comes from greater inclusivity.

LawrenceSamuels 21/9/19 21:39

it may be essential for peace for individuals to prioritize the shared humanity among all people.

Gentle Moon 21/9/19 21:40

Human beings possess a need to belong—which can mean individuals will participate in groups that perpetuate “us” vs. “them” distinctions.

For A Peace World 21/9/19 22:02

The wealth of any country is found primarily in its inhabitants. The country's future depends on them, individually and collectively, as does its capacity to work for peace. A commitment to peace is possible only in a unified society.

Vietnam Love 21/9/19 22:03

Social cohesion requires unstinting respect for the dignity of each person and the responsible participation of all in contributing the best of their talents and abilities.

Swift Hoodie 21/9/19 22:03

The energy needed to build and consolidate peace also demands that we constantly return to the wellsprings of our humanity.

Wilson Pit 21/9/19 22:04

To build peace, we need to look to the family, supporting it and facilitating its task, and in this way promoting an overall culture of life.

John Smith 21/9/19 22:06

The effectiveness of our commitment to peace depends on our understanding of human life. If we want peace, let us defend life!

Herewecome 21/9/19 22:08

Wherever the truth of human nature is ignored or denied, it becomes impossible to respect that grammar which is the natural law inscribed in the human heart

Allforcountry 21/9/19 22:09

We must combine our efforts, then, to develop a sound vision of man, respectful of the unity and integrity of the human person. Without this, it is impossible to build true peace.

For A Peace World 21/9/19 22:11

Nowadays, our cultural, social and religious differences should lead us to a new kind of fraternity wherein what rightly unites us is a shared sense of the greatness of each person and the gift which others are to themselves, to those around them and to all humanity. This is the path to peace!

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