The role of religions in promoting intercultural understanding towards sustainable peace

Bani Dugal, Bahá’í International Community

Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace

22 June 2005

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the discussion today alongside this distinguished panel of speakers. The very fact of our coming together for this conference, initiated by Member States and involving governments, UN agencies, and members of civil society is in itself an embodiment of the dialogue and cooperation that the conference seeks to explore. And as such, the Bahá’í International Community is honored to be part of these efforts.

We are witnessing a unique moment in the history of humankind. The swift processes of history have woven our disparate nations and cultures into one common neighborhood. One manifestation of this global transformation has been the increasing momentum of the interfaith movement. Over a century ago, the World’s Columbian Exposition gave birth to the “World’s Parliament of Religions,” which succeeded in establishing a dialogue between representatives of religions and denominations from around the world and was described as a gathering “unprecedented in the history of the world.” A century later, interfaith worship services, interfaith dialogue, and studies of comparative religion - unthinkable only a few decades earlier - are becoming commonplace.

At the same time, opposing forces of religious conflict have been gaining in strength. We continue to witness persistent intolerance and discrimination based on individuals’ religion and beliefs, the proliferation of violence in the name of religion, the manipulation of religion in the interest of political ideology and increasing tensions between religions and State policies. The rising tide of religious extremism fuels these developments, threatening securing and severely undermining efforts towards peace.

The time has come for a fundamental change in the way that believers of different religions relate to one another. Indeed, the question before us today, which explores the role of religion in promoting understanding between disparate cultures, leads directly to the pivotal principle of the teachings of Bahá’í Faith – the principle of unity. Our teachings about unity are no mere cliché. The Bahá'í sacred writings offer numerous passages stating the purpose of religion “is to establish unity and concord amongst the peoples of the world.” Indeed, in a notion that is perhaps radical for a religion, the Bahá'í teachings go one step further, stating that if religion becomes the cause of dissention and strife, it would be better for there to be no religion at all. To quote from the Writings of the Bahá’í Faith:

Religion is not intended to arouse enmity and hatred nor to become the

source of tyranny and injustice. Should it prove to be the cause of hostility,

discord and the alienation of mankind, assuredly the absence of religion would be preferable.[1]

The remedy for the repeated crises plaguing our communities today is to center our efforts and frank deliberations on that which we hold in common rather than that which sets us apart.

This may seem a tall order when applied to deep differences between the religions and cultures of the world and yet the spirit that has animated the interfaith movement over the last century suggests that a genuine rapprochement between diverse peoples and beliefs is steadily gaining momentum. Growing numbers of people are already coming to realize that the truth underlying all religions is in its essence one. This recognition arises not through a resolution of theological disputes but through an awareness of the reality that there is only one human family and that the Divine Essence, from which all life has sprung, has also been the impulse behind the principles and laws of the great religions of the world. The diversity of regulations and observances associated with the various faiths need not pose a challenge to the idea of religion’s essential oneness. That religions differ from one another is to be attributed to the different requirements of the age in which they appeared. While the essential message of religion is immutable, its continued guidance for the processes of civilization building had been adapted to the human and material conditions of each successive age. It is this essential unity of religion, across the tremendous diversity of history, culture, tradition, philosophy and practice that should now become the operating principle of religious discourse.

In order for our efforts in this realm to succeed, we cannot fail to attend to one of the most persistent and challenging obstacles in this undertaking - namely the individual’s right to freely adopt and change his or her religion and beliefs. This right so clearly articulated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has become one of the most pressing and contested human rights of our time. Indeed the individual’s search for truth is an activity intimately linked with the human conscience and with the essence of life itself. At a time when religious extremism, intolerance, and discrimination are threatening peace in many parts of the world, religious leaders must unequivocally support, if not lead, efforts to ensure that all people are afforded this fundamental freedom. At the same time, they must be equally vigilant in condemning the proponents of violence and extremism from within their own communities in order to create an environment conducive to genuine dialogue and cooperation. At the heart of any efforts towards mutual understanding, we must be willing to extend to others the rights and freedoms that we hold dear for ourselves.

Finally, as pointed out by Pauline Muchina, too often, efforts at intercultural understanding have failed to accord equal importance to the contributions and roles of women. Their full participation in all efforts towards intercultural understanding and building peace should now be passionately pursued, not only at the level of pragmatism but as the expression of the spiritual and moral principle that men and women are equal in the sight of God. The ambitious task we have before us – namely to lay the foundation for interfaith understanding and sustainable peace - will require the collective wisdom, insight, and capacity of all the representatives of religion – men and women, girls and boys. For as long as women are prevented from attaining their highest potential, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness that might be theirs.

As we consider the challenges ahead, let us not forget how far we have come. Such a meeting would have been unthinkable only a few decades ago. Yet today we are at a new beginning. We must not think that the process will be without trial and sacrifice. It will require all of us to move beyond our fixed conceptions of religion and to cleave tenaciously to the principles of equality and unity, which will guide our way. Our goal is unspeakably great for it embodies nothing less than the collective aspirations of humankind. Armed with humility, joy, and perseverance, let us proceed – together.

[1] Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace. Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982.