All over the world there is a struggle taking place within and about religion. Sometimes it results merely in harsh or prejudicial words. Too often it erupts in violence and acts of shocking extremism. The essence of the struggle is this: are people of religious faith prepared to regard those of a different faith with respect and dignity, and yes, even love; or do they rather regard them as enemies? Are they “open” to the other or “closed”? Do they want to live in harmony with those different from themselves?
In each of the main religions such a struggle is being waged everywhere. Because of the enormous importance of religion in the modern world, the outcome of such a struggle has immense implications for all of us – those from the major faiths and those of none.
Some people naturally want to say that the answer to this lies in the realm of politics; and of course politics has a crucial role to play. But it is clear that since the dimensions of this struggle are inevitably affected by religion itself, people of faith have to step forward and take responsibility. What is more, because those who are passionate about their faith do not want to act in contradiction to it, the argument in favour of the open approach has to go wider and deeper than simply asking people to behave nicely to one another. It has to address, full-on, the spiritual, theological and scriptural basis for mutual respect towards those who follow a different religious or spiritual path.
On 20 October 2010, largely unnoticed by the world, the UN general assembly unanimously passed a resolution declaring the first full week of each February the World Interfaith Harmony Week. The resolution, first proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan, is unique in the annals of the UN because of its explicit mention of God (albeit in a way that does not exclude those who don’t ascribe to a religion) and because it promotes harmonious interfaith relations in a way that specifically draws attention to the scriptural and theological basis for such relations.
Obviously resolutions, no matter how well-meaning, do not by themselves alter the world; but this resolution does encourage people who believe in inter-religious harmony and mutual acceptance to challenge those whose narrow and often ignorant view of other religions leads to discord and division. It acknowledges that religious discourse on social behaviour is central to the way the 21st century develops.
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