Panel: THE INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE: FROM DEAD ENDS TO A NEW APPROACH



321.1 - ACTIVELY FIGHT HATRED AND RESCUE PERSECUTED: NGO CHRISTIANS IN NEED

AUTHORS:
Ike O. (CiN Research Institute for Interfaith Harmony RIIFH ~ Vienna ~ Austria)
Text:
HATRED is a WRONG PATHWAY for HUMANITY. LOVE IS THE ONLY SUSTAINABLE ROUTE TO PEACE AND JUSTICE IN A WORLD FOR EVERYBODY. The reasons for hatred may be found in human nature and humanity's proneness to evil, yet, the power of religions to teach love and truth, preach, heal, transform, and reconcile broken humanity in overcoming hatred, far transcends these limitations. The truth makes free is an adage found in many cultures including the Igbo of Nigeria whose proverb is founded in "Eziokwu bu Ndu. Onye anwuna ma ibe ya efuna. Egbe belu Ugo belu"… (Truth is Life. Justice is Live and Let Live). The EuARe Vienna conference is a great opportunity to re-emphasize the truths that bind humanity, namely that religions must serve peace, promote citizens' freedoms as the creator made it so, encourage religious tolerance, and promote love against hatred of all forms. Muslims, Christians, and other religious thought leaders must teach and lead their congregations on the path of religious truths that do not undermine the Love, tolerance, freedom, and fundamental dignity of all human beings, irrespective of their differences. Education for Peace and religious tolerance is an agenda useful for all faith leaders to imbibe and build upon. There is an urgent need for religious communities and followers of various spiritual traditions to agree to their responsibility of being places of tolerance, respect, humanity, tolerance, freedom, and the avoidance of discrimination and violence against fellow humans or indeed against creation and nature. RELIGIONS ARE AGENTS OF PEACE THROUGH EDUCATION.