Religious leaders denounce use of religion for political ends
-13/09/06
Leaders of majo
Religious leaders denounce use of religion for political ends
-13/09/06
Leaders of major world religions meeting in Kazakhstan made a decision to take a more active role in denouncing intolerance, terrorism and the misuse of religion for political ends.
The call came on the first day of the Second Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The summit continues today (Wednesday) and is expected to result in a declaration on active measures that individual religious leaders can take to promote international security.
ìReligious warfare brings out the worst in people,î said Patriarch Bartholomeos I, Archbishop of Constantinople, addressing 43 delegations representing leaders of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Shinto, Taoism and Hinduism. ìReligious fanaticism is one of the thorniest aspects of the problem and this is where our efforts should focus if we want the world to change,î he said, calling for the teaching of respect and reconciliation ìin every synagogue, in every mosque, in every church.î
President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, Chairman and host of the Congress, opened the first day of talks by adopting participantsí agreement on a set of Principles of Inter-Religious Dialogue that he hoped would pave the way for a Declaration on the role of religion in promoting international security. ìAfter the great loss of life in the first six years of the new century, the world is gradually beginning to understand one simple fact,î he said. ìThe worldís cultural and religious diversity is a reality that one needs to understand and accept as a given. Any other approach by politicians and the world may simply explode.î
Mr. Nazarbayev said Kazakhstanís state television in 2007 would begin broadcasting regular broadcasts of a one-hour program devoted to ìa sermon of kindness and religious toleranceî and urged other world leaders to follow suit.
Representatives of each of the worldís major religions spoke in turn of the role of education in promoting tolerance as a long-term contribution to global security. Koichiro Matsuura, director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, lauded Kazakhstanís ìmodel for peaceful coexistenceî among the countryís 40-some religious groups.
French President Jacques Chirac, in a letter to President Nazarbayev, expressed hope that the dialogue would make an important contribution to a global dialogue between cultures and civilizations. ìTo counteract against the clash of cultures, to combat calls to violence, to achieve the victory of our vision of a unified world, these are the goals which people of all kind intentions, of all religions and views, must reach together,î he wrote.
The Congress is taking place in a newly built Palace of Peace and Accord in the form of a pyramid. Inaugurated last week, the building was designed by British architect Sir Norman Foster as a permanent seat of inter-religious dialogue.
Religious leaders denounce use of religion for political ends
-13/09/06
Leaders of major world religions meeting in Kazakhstan made a decision to take a more active role in denouncing intolerance, terrorism and the misuse of religion for political ends.
The call came on the first day of the Second Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The summit continues today (Wednesday) and is expected to result in a declaration on active measures that individual religious leaders can take to promote international security.
ìReligious warfare brings out the worst in people,î said Patriarch Bartholomeos I, Archbishop of Constantinople, addressing 43 delegations representing leaders of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Shinto, Taoism and Hinduism. ìReligious fanaticism is one of the thorniest aspects of the problem and this is where our efforts should focus if we want the world to change,î he said, calling for the teaching of respect and reconciliation ìin every synagogue, in every mosque, in every church.î
President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, Chairman and host of the Congress, opened the first day of talks by adopting participantsí agreement on a set of Principles of Inter-Religious Dialogue that he hoped would pave the way for a Declaration on the role of religion in promoting international security. ìAfter the great loss of life in the first six years of the new century, the world is gradually beginning to understand one simple fact,î he said. ìThe worldís cultural and religious diversity is a reality that one needs to understand and accept as a given. Any other approach by politicians and the world may simply explode.î
Mr. Nazarbayev said Kazakhstanís state television in 2007 would begin broadcasting regular broadcasts of a one-hour program devoted to ìa sermon of kindness and religious toleranceî and urged other world leaders to follow suit.
Representatives of each of the worldís major religions spoke in turn of the role of education in promoting tolerance as a long-term contribution to global security. Koichiro Matsuura, director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, lauded Kazakhstanís ìmodel for peaceful coexistenceî among the countryís 40-some religious groups.
French President Jacques Chirac, in a letter to President Nazarbayev, expressed hope that the dialogue would make an important contribution to a global dialogue between cultures and civilizations. ìTo counteract against the clash of cultures, to combat calls to violence, to achieve the victory of our vision of a unified world, these are the goals which people of all kind intentions, of all religions and views, must reach together,î he wrote.
The Congress is taking place in a newly built Palace of Peace and Accord in the form of a pyramid. Inaugurated last week, the building was designed by British architect Sir Norman Foster as a permanent seat of inter-religious dialogue.