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IIFWP Conference in Jury’s Ballsbridge Hotel Dublin,
August 30th 2003 |
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Some of the participants gathered for a group
picture. |
On Saturday 30th of August, The Interreligious and International
Federation for World Peace ( IIFWP ) held a conference in Jury's
Ballsbridge Hotel on the topic: “The World at a Turning Point:
Considering Innovative Approaches to Peace through
Responsible Leadership and Good Governance”. About 50 representatives
from several different Christian denominations,
Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Quakers, Bahai and Unificationists
gathered together to discuss the topics that were introduced through
three PowerPoint presentations.
The conference was officially opened by Pastor
Victor and the MC Martin Moloney introduced IIFWP Regional Director Timothy Read, who
read the keynote address in place of international chairman Rev. Chung
Hwan Kwak. His address was followed by a video presentation of IIFWP
and the work it has been doing in more than 160 countries around the
world. The conference was part of a worldwide effort to enlighten
religious people about the intensive work that is presently going on
centering on the UN. Recently we have all been painfully aware of the
weaknesses of the UN. The UN needs more than political adjustments, it
needs spiritual renewal. Therefore in the autumn session, the
Philippine delegation to the UN will present a suggestion to change
the structure of the organisation. Looking at the situation around the
world, so many of the conflict situations have, at least as part of
their cause, some religious element. The situations in Palestine,
Afghanistan, Iraq etc. and our more local problems in the north of
Ireland, are all strongly influenced by this religious factor and it
is therefore difficult to see how politics alone can come up with a
solution that will guarantee lasting peace. The religious problems
have to be sorted out.
The suggestion that will be put before the UN is about introducing a
second house to the organisation, consisting of religious/spiritual
leaders. By introducing this second house, this religious part of the
problems can be seriously addressed. The
religious leaders would have permanent representation and the
opportunity to come with their input or objections when the decisions
are to be made concerning these different crises. IIFWP has already
involved itself very directly in the Middle East situation through the
Middle East Peace Initiative. Earlier this year a successful
conference was held in Jerusalem where the three Abramic faiths united
in signing the “Jerusalem Declaration” acknowledging each other and
pledging to work together. (Please see Newsletters http://www.iifwp.org/ )
At the conference in Jury's Ballsbridge Hotel the first presentation
was on “The Principles for Peace”. IIFWP lecturer Mr. Thomas Pritty
gave an in depth presentation of the importance of marriage and family
in the process of creating individuals to be a
foundation for lasting peace and to function in harmony in society. He
explained how the marriage ideally should have a solid foundation in a
commitment to God, who wants to see His nature reflected not only in
us as individuals, but also in our human relations. Here the family is
the cornerstone. |
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IIFWP Regional director Tim Read |
God is the source of truth and life and therefore also the true
teacher when we want to know how to use our physical lives. Mr. Pritty
pointed out how we can see God’s nature from His creation and through
that, understand what is expected of us as created beings. Since God’s
motivation for creating us was His heart of love, it should be
possible to find fulfillment through God-centered human relationships,
and the principle of living for the sake of others was repeatedly
mentioned. One of the conclusions of the lecture was that God’s desire
on earth for peace and harmony, can only be fulfilled when man is
willing to do his part, when he can accomplish his responsibility as
God’s independent co-creator. Religions have been trying to guide man
in that direction, but man must do more that just talk. “How must God
feel if He sees some of his children praising His Holy Name – yet
doing nothing to alleviate the suffering of others.”
The lecturer stressed that God does not rule by force but respects
man’s ability to make independent decisions for the sake of true love
which can only come about by free commitment. The road to peace starts
within the individual and spreads through the school of love, which is
the family, to reach the society and nation. “A society of harmonious,
giving families is the foundation for a peaceful nation and a world of
such nations is a peaceful world“.
Mr. Pritty also touched the underlying problem of selfishness, its
beginning and how important it is that man can grow out of this
childish state of mind. In this connection the education system was
mentioned. Presently all is focused on intellectual learning and
acquiring of skills, while the education of heart and character is
hardly mentioned. With increasing theoretical and practical knowledge
and decreasing morals and concern for fellow man, we are heading for
disaster.
After the presentation there was set aside about 30 minutes for group
discussions and afterwards each of the groups gave a short report of
the conclusions that the groups had arrived at. Though the
participants came from so many different religious backgrounds, it was
very clear that on these fundamental points there was little
disagreement. All were very worried about the situation of the family
in present day society and the consequences unqualified parents create
when they try to raise their children without really knowing how to.
Consequences of lack of parental love is evident in many members of
the younger generation.
The conversations continued over lunch as people got to know each
other better.
The second lecture was on the “Inter-faith Imperative“ presented by
Halvard Iversen, secretary general of IIFWP Ireland. It traced the
relatively short history of religious co-operation and its development
in recent years. To improve the present situation there is a desperate
need for religious bodies to be able to reach out and love beyond
their own rather narrow boundaries. It is not enough to look inwardly
and just be interested in the expansion of ones own tradition and
congregation. It was pointed out how a narrow-minded attitude leads to
moral corruption and separation from the secular society. Religious
people should take a lead in helping their fellow man even if he does
not always believe as they do. The Bible was quoted, reminding us that
in the gospel of John it says that Jesus was sacrificed because God
“so loved the world“, not just some narrow religion or denomination.
Jesus also showed the example throughout his life of mingling also
with the outcasts in society. His choice of friends and disciples
therefore did not always go down so well with the religious leaders of
the time who were more into following the letter of the law.
Religion is not meant to be the goal in itself. It is for the purpose
of
helping to develop each person’s ability to love unconditionally to
enable them to directly experience the true love of God. People of
faith have to take a lead in relieving human suffering and the
religious council in the UN is an important step in the direction of
taking on that responsibility. This would restore the presently
declining moral authority and dignity of religious people. IIFWP has
previously shown the way by inviting different religious people to
participate in practical projects to improve the situation by serving
society. The Religious Youth Service (RYS) was active in Belfast a few
years ago, where a group of young people from religious people to
participate in practical projects to improve the situation by serving
society. |
 
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Tom Pritty gives presentation Principles of Peace |
A pastor reports from the group discussion |
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Discussion at the tables |
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Mary Catney from Belfast gives her response. |
Dr. Nooh Al-Kaddo Exe. Dir. of Islamic
Cultural Centre explains |
The Religious Youth Service ( RYS) was active in Belfast a few
years ago, where a group of young people from different religious
backgrounds created a peace garden where people can go to meditate or
pray. RYS is very active all around the world and has arranged
hundreds of practical projects, serving people in need.
As a response to a theoretical presentation, Mrs. Mary Catney from
Belfast gave a hands-on
experience from her life growing up in a society where religious
tensions made life insecure and
unsafe. She spoke about the need to solve the different resentments
coming from injustices through many generations and begin with
reconciliation with the closest neighbours of a different religious
orientation. Her presentation was from the heart and made many of the
participants reflect more deeply over the topics of the need to solve
the inter-religious strife that exists in so many places.
The third presentation was about the situation of the UN and the role
it should play in today's world. Timothy Read was tracing the history
of the organisation and the ideal it was born to represent. He showed
the participants the tasks the UN is facing today of peacekeeping and
famine relief, Aids prevention, combat of illiteracy and environmental
pollution. He asked how the organisation could improve its
performance.
With the new problems of global terrorism that became even more in
focus after the 9/11 incident in the US, the UN has to find a way to
solve the grievances different groups have around the world and help
balance the human situation. How do we change the many different
attitudes of nations seeking mostly only their own self interest?
Some newspapers already declared the UN dead, but the lecturer did not
agree with this point of view. There is, however, great room for
improvement. An amendment of the UN charter is needed, but this seems
difficult to accomplish, though originally it was the intention that
after 10 years this should be done.
In the same way as the human body is guided by the invisible
human spirit, the external UN politics has to have a solid foundation
of spirituality. The weapons for peace have already been pioneered by
people like Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Mother Theresa. Effective
methods to resolve past grievances have to be developed and the
attitude of service for the sake of others should be the ruling motto.
This has to come on a basis of a convergence of fundamental religious
principles, and mutual respect and co-operation.
He also laid out certain principles that should be the foundation to
help define the “invisible” spiritual yet necessary dimensions to
lasting solutions. He stressed God’s involvement, man’s responsibility
and the protection of the family. The introduction of an
inter-religious council is the first step in that direction and the
participants were asked to support the creation of such by writing to
the national representatives to the UN to express their hope they
would respond to and support the upcoming resolution.
An opportunity was given for a response to the presentation, and Dr.
Fathi Akkari from the Islamic Cultural centre gave his opinion. He was
questioning the idea of a religious council in UN and asked how such a
council would be able to function since he doubted it would have much
power and would probably be ignored by the present political
community.
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Buddhist teacher Kelsang Donyo and
Quaker representatives Gordon Pearson and Claire Counihan. |
Prof. Dr. Alakh Pandeya ( Hindu ) |
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These questions were the topic
for a discussion and the participants generally
agreed we could not expect a miracle even if the idea of the Council
was accepted. It was an important step in the
right direction. To change the general attitude is a matter of
education and that is not done over night. More serious emphasis on
character building and education of heart and personality in the
schools was stressed. Some also mentioned courses preparing young
people for the responsibility of family and
raising children before marrying.
The IIFWP is giving a special recognition, “Ambassador
for Peace” to people who try to
uphold the principle of "living for the sake of others" found
universally in the world's great spiritual and moral traditions.
Calling us to look beyond personal or special interests toward the
well-being of the larger community, they seek to lead us beyond
barriers that divide people, particularly barriers related to
differences of race, religion, nationality or culture. Around the
world there are presently thousands of people from all kinds of
backgrounds that are creating a force for good in the society. Also
here in Ireland the numbers of these peace ambassadors are increasing.
This time we could recognise four people that we felt should be
specially mentioned. They received an enthusiastic applause from
conference participants when they were called to the front to receive
their certificates.
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Dr. Puri ( Sikh ) and Dr. Satadien ( Muslim ) sign the conference
declaration. |
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