“This age of globalization needs enlightened people in each faith who
can examine their sacred writings and traditions and identify the aspects that
can benefit all humanity as well as those that preserve each religion's
identity. UPF and its network of Ambassadors for Peace celebrate this week each
year, in a way that encourages understanding, respect, and cooperation among
people of all faiths for the well-being of our communities and peace in the
world”
On February 2nd 2024 the Universal Peace
Federation (UPF), supported by UNODC, UNCAV, the
Coalition of Faith-Based Organizations, Youth and Students for Peace and the
Women’s Federation for World Peace organized a conference in the Vienna
International Centre (United Nations) on the theme “Building a Peace
Narrative at a time of Global Crisis: The Contribution of Religion“ commemorating the World Interfaith
Harmony Week, which was attended by 200 guests.
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In the Media: In the face of
prevailing "pessimistic narratives", faith communities should be
mediators of hope and "catalysts" for society and politics, according
to the tenor of renowned speakers from diplomacy, religion and science.
MENA
Editors Network
Vienna,
05.02.2024 (Catholic Press Agency)
A high-level conference at the United Nations in Vienna has highlighted the
contribution of religions to the creation of "peace narratives" in
times of crisis and conflict. Today's "pessimistic narratives" often
lead to hatred, extreme violence and refugee crises, said Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs
and Crime (UNODC), at the conference held on Friday as part of the UN World
Interfaith Harmony Week, which is always held at the beginning of February. Religions
could bring about a
positive change, convey hope
and act as "catalysts"
in society and politics.
In the age of globalization, every faith needs "enlightened people who can
examine their sacred scriptures and traditions and recognize
the aspects that can benefit
humanity as a whole," said peace activist
Peter Haider, President of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Austria, on whose initiative the conference came about. In addition to UNODC, the campaign was also
supported by the United Nations Correspondents
Association Vienna, the Coalition of Faith-Based
Organizations (CFBO), Youth and Students
for Peace and the Women's Federation for World Peace.
More "courage" needed
Since narratives are fed by emotions, purely rational
argumentation and genuine dialog
in the search for a compromise often
fail, noted CFBO President
Prof. Elmar Kuhn. The religious
scholar, who is also General Secretary of "Christians in Need", called
for the "narratives of death, blood and terror" to be countered by the
"narratives of life and peace" in order to "build walls against hatred
and violence". Kuhn saw this
as a particular challenge for religions. From the treasure trove of their messages of revelation, spirituality and
"power for reconciliation and peace", they should "work more courageously into society"
and create "bridges to hope
and tolerance" with their narratives.
Approaches to reconciliation
in conflicts were presented from several perspectives at the conference.
For example, the chargé d'affaires of the Kingdom of Jordan in Austria,
Rana Abida, referred to her country's experience
and expertise in developing solutions to the major
issues in the Middle East. The former diplomat and environmental protection entrepreneur Afsar
Rathor moderated the
discussion with almost 300
participants and shared his
experiences of reconciliation
work between Hutu and Tutsi
after the genocide in
Rwanda. Albania was also mentioned as a positive example: the Balkan country is exemplary for its model of religious tolerance and
coexistence, said linguist
Prof. Manjola Zacellari. Families and investment in education are an important key to this.
Approaches from the religions
Peace approaches from
the religions were also discussed as examples. Forgiveness, self-knowledge and reconciliation are indispensable elements
of a path to stable peace, explained the Viennese physician and theologian Prof.
Johannes Huber, using the Lord's
Prayer as an example. Prof.
Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Deputy Chairman of Minhaj University in Lahore, Pakistan, emphasized
that appreciation for a
Christian ruler was at the beginning of the Islamic
tradition. Mohammed had sent Muslim
families who had fled to the King of Abyssinia and described him as a "source of truth".
In Pakistan, despite the
often different reality, efforts are made
to preserve the freedom of
religious minorities.
The Viennese physicist Prof. Ille Gebeshuber spoke about the Pope's encyclical "Laudato
si". Comprehensive solutions are needed in view of the highly complex challenges of the present, whereby it is better
to take "a thousand small steps rather
than delayed measures". Committed individuals could contribute a great deal to a sustainable future, said the President of the Austrian Catholic Academics Association. Peace must be achieved
on the three levels of resources, culture and religion in order
to resolve conflicts permanently and prevent wars. The narrative for this must
be based on truth, compassion and respect for life.
Moving from theory
to practice
Finally, a call to move from
theoretical discussion about religion to the practical implementation of love
and compassion came from US writer
and filmmaker Joshua Sinclair. The essence of peace is "understanding and accepting suffering", with the
contribution of religions to alleviating the suffering of the marginalized, weak and needy being the true test of their teachings. Elisabeth Maria
Ziegler-Duregger from the
United Religions Initiative (URI) gave practical examples of this, including an interfaith aid project that
supports 700 children, women
and senior citizens in northern
Syrian refugee tents with food,
water and sanitation. The expert called
for a global debate on the responsibility
of supporters of military actions; laws should hold
individuals personally accountable, she pleaded.
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Mr. Peter Haider, President, Universal
Peace Federation, Austria
first thanked the panellists, participants, sponsors, and contributors. He
highlighted the background of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, first proposed
by King Abdullah II of Jordan in September 2010, and unanimously adopted by the
UN General Assembly the following month. Referring to the need for enlightened
people of different faiths who can draw on aspects of their traditions to
contribute to society’s wellbeing, he said UPF and its Peace Ambassadors have
celebrated the week annually since 2013 to encourage understanding, respect,
and cooperation for the well-being of society and world peace. Considering the
current global crises caused by wars and climate change, Mr Haider reiterated the
urgent need for religions to build a peace narrative to overcome mistrust and
promote dialogue, cooperation, prosperity, and peace. In conclusion, he posed
the question to the panel: How can religions contribute to the peace narrative?
Dr.
Asfar Rathor, former UN diplomat, moderator
of the first session, welcomed all contributors and participants and referred
to the theme of building a peace narrative in a global crisis and the role of
religion in achieving peace and the UN SDGs. Religions can support sustainable
development and overcome poverty and environmental degradation by promoting
compassion, generosity, care, and protection for the environment. Such values
advance social and economic well-being by raising awareness, and helping to
create a sustainable world. Dr. Rathor mentioned the Ebola crisis in West
Africa in 2014-2015, where Christian and Muslim religious leaders successfully
transformed the message of fear from the government and health agencies into a
message of hope and compassion. Dr Rathor concludes that UN agencies, realising
that most people have a religious affiliation, now work in closer partnership
with local community faith leaders to help resolve conflicts.
Mr.
Jean-Luc Lemahieu, UNODOC Director, Policy Analysis
and Public Affairs, emphasised
the need to search for common ground in times of turmoil. Referring to the
pessimistic narratives of war, conflict, climate change, and the refugee
crisis, he said the world should hear optimistic narratives as 25% of the
global population constitutes children under 18. However, Africa, with a median
age of 18 years, has the lowest life expectancy. Hence, the youth, who hear
pessimistic narratives, escape through migration, crime, radicalisation, or
drugs. He believes that religion can fill the void tolerance, and peaceful
coexistence. It encourages interfaith activities to promote a harmonious and
inclusive society based on shared values of compassion, love, and for an optimistic
narrative of peace and tolerance. The UN annual World Interfaith Harmony Week
promotes dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among people of various
faiths; it fosters respect, respect.
This
optimistic peace narrative of religion counters extremist hate narratives,
addressing the root causes of social and economic inequality by promoting
justice and compassion; this encourages inclusive development and social
cohesion. Mr. Lemahieu emphasises the need to
cooperate with international organisations, such as UNODC, which deals with
transnational crime, focusing on the youth - the principal victims. In
conclusion, he highlights the need to embrace the universally shared values
promoted by all religions to foster dialogue and peace.
HE. Ms.
Rana Abida, Chargé d’Affaires of the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan to Austria, began with the Muslim peace greeting
and emphasised the need for religion and coordinated multilateral action to
address multiple global crises and cited HM King Abdulla that ‘no country can
face these crises and provide for its future in isolation.’ Highlighting the
central role of the UN, she said the key lies in using its tools with respect
and humility and learning from each other. Amid turbulence in the world, she
said Islam calls for harmony, coexistence, and peace. However, many outlaws
exploit the true teaching of Islam and engage in terrorism. Basic human rights
should be enjoyed by all, including Palestinians.
Ms. Abida
stressed the need for interreligious harmony to overcome mistrust between
people of different faiths. This goes together with securing peace and
overcoming poverty and injustice since humanity is bound together by mutual
interests and shared commandments to love God and neighbour. Concluding, she
called on the global community to come together to create world peace.
Univ.-Prof.
DDr. Johannes Huber, Theologian, Professor of
Endocrinology and Interdisciplinary Gynaecology, Author of several books, speaking as a gynaecologist and a
Christian, approached the topic of forgiveness from three perspectives and
introduced his address by referring to the end of the Lord’s Prayer. Firstly,
Dr Huber focused on the historical aspect. He highlighted situations in
European history where the practice of forgiveness was exercised: the Treaty of
Westphalia; the Edict of Nantes (Henry IV); and Louis XVIII to the murderers of
his brother Louis XVI. The Austrian philosopher Rudolf Burger suggested that
‘You shall forgive’ be the 11th Commandment. Dr. Huber mentioned that
forgiveness originates from the Greek word ‘amnesia,’ which Christianity
transformed to ‘forgiveness’. It has become an essential aspect of Christian
faith, which, if practised, can eliminate much misery.
Secondly,
Dr. Huber focused on the religious aspect, where we should be aware of our
personal inborn corruption as highlighted by St. Augustine, who recommended
daily examination of conscience. European philosophers (Fichter, Schelling, and
Goethe) were also influenced by St Augustine’s writing. Dr Huber concluded that
personal daily reflection on our actions helps us to achieve peace for
ourselves and others.
Thirdly,
Dr. Huber focused on
the scientific perspective. He mentioned Nobel physicist, Anton Zeilinger, who
said the beginning of the Gospel of John could be rewritten with ‘In the
beginning was ‘the Information’ instead of ‘the Word’. If the Information for
all elements and each person was always there, it will be there after our body
decays. As part of the greater whole, the universe, and the very small, the
quanta, our actions remain stored for eternity. Referring to other Nobel Prize physicists, he infers that
science, while not proving transcendence itself, indicates it is
‘intellectually appropriate to believe in the transcendental’ and there is a
quantum code where everything is stored for eternity. Finally, Dr Huber mentions the French
phrase for dying, ‘rendre l'âme’,
which means ‘to return our soul’. The key question for every believer is the
level of intactness of our soul when it is returned. He concluded that this was the main reason to
seek peace and goodness.
Prof.
Dr Hussain-Mohi-Ud-Din Qadari, Deputy Chair Minhaj
University, Lahore, Pakistan,
stated that relationships between faith communities should be analysed from
various viewpoints: one’s own perspective of one’s faith; the historical
relationship and interaction between the faith communities; the laws and
statements in religious texts about the other faith; and traditions of the
religious founder regarding the other faith community. Prof. Qadari analyses
relationships with other monotheistic faiths from the Islamic perspective based
on writings in the Koran, sayings of the Prophet Mohammed, and historical
relationships with Jewish and Christian communities. Referencing the Koran, Dr
Qadari said all three monotheistic religions are equally respected by God and
all the major prophets are equal before God. The Koran praises the qualities of
both Jewish and Christian communities and promotes interfaith relationships.
Prophet Mohammed encouraged persecuted Muslims to find refuge in a Christian
community under a just Christian ruler. Both the Koran and Prophet Mohammed
support freedom of worship for minority and majority faiths. Regarding his home
country, he said the Pakistani Constitution protects the rights of minorities.
The problems besetting Pakistan, however, are due to the mindset of
narrow-minded conservatism. In conclusion, he called for a movement of love to
overcome this mindset and to revive the times when Christian, Jewish and Muslim
faiths lived together in harmony and respect.
Prof.
Dr. Elmar Kuhn, President, Coalition of Faith-Based Organisations,
Central-Europe, first
thanked the panellists for enriching his knowledge of history, essential for
understanding the present and envisioning the future. His presentation focused on the future and
how society can counteract hate narratives based on disinformation. Alluding to
the distorted false narratives of the Koran by IS and Hamas and subsequent
terror attacks and the Christians’ false narrative of Jews, resulting in the
pogroms of the Middle Ages, he said all are vulnerable to narratives based on
disinformation. This begs the question how civil and religious groups can
counter such false narratives. He believes logical arguments cannot overcome
the extremist’s distorted image of reality. Such hate narratives destroy the
rational basis of the listening and debating culture, built in Europe from the
time of Thomas Aquinas, through to Erasmus, to Kant, Voltaire, resulting in our
current democratic culture of dialogue.
Now, he is
convinced we must go beyond the arguments of reason and debate to reach the
arguments of faith and belief. Religions must present the narrative of life,
hope, and eternity, to motivate reconciliation. Bridges of hope and tolerance
can rewrite negative false narratives. The failure of religions to act wisely
allows false narratives to develop. Similarly, the failure of the UN to find
compromises through cooperation allows conflicts to continue. Prof. Kuhn sees
hope for the future through religious and ethical value-based education of our
youth. The practise of dialogue and respect in schools and universities
prepares youth for civil society and the development of positive peace
narratives. Religious communities need to initiate interfaith dialogue, where
neither side denies its identity but sincerely seeks reconciliation. In
conclusion, he stressed the need to replace negative narratives of hate with
positive narrative of life, hope and reconciliation through ethical and
faith-based education, showing respect for the other.
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The second
session of the conference started with the anthem of Inter-religious Peace
Choir „Peace Prayer Mandela“ led by Ms. Ira Lauren, which created the right
atmosphere for the upcoming presentations and discussions. The session was
elegantly moderated from Ms. Marlies Ladstätter,
Representative of IAYSP Europe, who emphasised the importance of finding inner
peace prior to searching for peace around us and the world.
The first
panellist, Prof. Dr. Gebeshuber from the Institute
of Applied Physics at Technical University in Vienna and President of the
Austrian Association of Catholic Academics, addressed some of the most
complex issues that are of major concern for the world in the current
situation, such as the ongoing conflicts, climate change, population growth
along with the decline of democratic values in the face of technological developments
which in turn lead to social inequalities. Professor Gebeshuber
emphasised the need for immediate solutions by
taking a thousand small steps that lead to clear plans for a sustainable
future, rather than delayed actions. She highlighted the necessity of creating
peace narratives that derive from the truth, compassion and respect for life.
The next
speaker, Prof. Dr. Manjola Zacellari,
Professor of Linguistics (Multilingualism and Intercultural Dialogue) at the
Aleksander Moisiu University in Durres, Albania,
addressed the unique case of interreligious harmony and cooperation in Albania,
known for the tolerance and coexistence of religions and religious communities
in the country. Prof. Zacellari mentioned some of the
key factors that have contributed in the course of country’s history to this
phenomenon, such as the strong national identity that rises above any religious
ones, due to the historical context of the country; the importance of the
family as a key factor for promoting interreligious harmony and various
educational initiatives that aim to promote such values. She emphasised the importance
of concrete measures, both on individual and institutional levels in order to
maintain the principles of inter-religious harmony and tolerance.
The session
proceeded with the speech of Ms. Elisabeth Maria Ziegler-Duregger,
representative of URI Austria, Association “Education Brings Peace” who
presented to the audience her initiative and experience with URI (United
Religions Initiative), a global organization that promotes cooperation between
people of different religions that work together beyond their religious
identities and differences.
One of their
main projects has been helping and supporting children, women and elderly
people living in tents in the northern Syria, by supplying them with food,
water and sanitation. Ms. Ziegler-Duregger introduced
another project that consists in planting trees in the war torn Syria as a
symbol of hope and future. In her speech she called for a global debate on the
responsibility of those that support the military actions and recommended
holding individuals personally accountable through clear legislation. She
considered the Interreligious Harmony Week as a starting point towards
important further discussions.
Dr. Joshua
Sinclair, an American writer, film-maker, actor, director and medical doctor,
the fourth panellist,
gave a thought-provoking speech by sharing a compelling anecdote about his
visit to the Vienna Zoo. He recounted an encounter with a gorilla through which
he explored the concept of suffering and its connection to the human
experience. Dr. Sinclair delved into the hypothetical notion of the complete
abolition of suffering and questioned the implications for art, literature,
music and religious texts. He emphasized that the essence of peace is to
understand and embrace suffering. With references to renowned poets and writers
such as T.S. Eliot and Oscar Wilde, Dr. Sinclair explored the profound effect
of suffering on human creativity and spiritual growth. He challenged the
audience to move beyond theological discussions and focus on concrete actions
that address the immediate needs of people in need. Drawing parallels between
different religious traditions, Dr. Sinclair emphasized the importance of showing
love and compassion through practical means. The true touchstone for religious
teachings is their effectiveness in alleviating the suffering of the
marginalized, vulnerable and needy. Dr. Sinclair concluded his speech with a
poignant quote from Oscar Wilde about Christ's ability to bring peace and
comfort and challenged the audience to reflect on their own impact on the lives
of others. He questioned whether individuals are actually making a difference
in the world and bringing peace to the lives they touch. In essence, Dr. Joshua
Sinclair's speech called for a shift from theoretical debates about religion to
practical demonstrations of love and compassion. For the transformative power
of individual action can promote peace and alleviate suffering.
The last
speaker was Dr. Dieter Schmidt, Medical doctor and Chairman of UPF in
Central Europe. As a follower of UPF founder, the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung
Moon, he was involved in the activities leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
He recalled that the movement for the reunification of Germany began in the
churches in East Germany, where people were educated in atheism and communism,
praying silently and standing in front of soldiers with guns ready to fire.
This movement grew to 100,000 people chanting "We are the people".
For him, the essence of unification lay in the power of Almighty God, who
ensured that there was no bloodshed. The purpose of the UN, in which we now
find ourselves, is to create world peace. We must overcome our national
interests, and it is also the goal of all world religions to create world
peace. He spoke about a rally for peace in Jerusalem in 2002 as part of the
Middle East Peace Initiative. He spoke about the impressions of two recent
visits to Ukraine, where he no longer just followed the news in the evening,
but felt the suffering of an entire people. People who live the essence of
religions can bring peace by recognizing that we are one family under God. In
Vienna in 2018, we had a rally with the message "Peace begins with
me". Not institutions, but love will bring peace, and we learn it in the
family by living for the sake of others, overcoming the boundaries of nations
and religions. We cannot wait any longer, but bring true peace rooted in love.
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Further
information: Peter Haider Tel.: +43 650 2588846 |
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UPF is an NGO in General Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations
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