1 1 the need for an interreligious council at the united nations universal peace federation
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The Need for an The Need for an Interreligious Interreligious
Council Council at the United at the United
NationsNations
Universal Peace FederationUniversal Peace Federation
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The Significance of ReligionThe Significance of Religion
Religion is an essential part of Religion is an essential part of
human consciousness and human human consciousness and human
identity.identity.
Religious ideas form the basis for Religious ideas form the basis for
human worldviews and worldly human worldviews and worldly
action.action.
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The Significance of ReligionThe Significance of Religion
Religion guides us to understand Religion guides us to understand
about:about: our ultimate originsour ultimate origins our condition in the worldour condition in the world our ultimate purpose and destinyour ultimate purpose and destiny
Religion shapes civilizations, cultures Religion shapes civilizations, cultures
and social, political, and economic and social, political, and economic
systems.systems.
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Positive Impact of ReligionPositive Impact of Religion
Religion inspires and guides individuals and Religion inspires and guides individuals and
movements in truthful, constructive, movements in truthful, constructive,
beneficial, and morally upright ways, giving beneficial, and morally upright ways, giving
meaning, purpose, hope.meaning, purpose, hope. Religion inspires compassion, giving, Religion inspires compassion, giving,
service, humanitarian action, sacrifice for service, humanitarian action, sacrifice for
others.others. Good, enlightened religious leadership is Good, enlightened religious leadership is
essential to achieving world peace.essential to achieving world peace.
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Negative Impact of ReligionNegative Impact of Religion
Religion can, and often does influence Religion can, and often does influence
and guide individuals and movements in and guide individuals and movements in
untruthful, destructive, harmful and untruthful, destructive, harmful and
morally problematic waysmorally problematic ways Poor religious leadership gives rise to Poor religious leadership gives rise to
manifold problems and contributes to manifold problems and contributes to
both division and great suffering in our both division and great suffering in our
world. world.
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Overcoming Interreligious Overcoming Interreligious ConflictConflict
Religion has too often been a source of Religion has too often been a source of
division, and many conflicts around the division, and many conflicts around the
world: Middle East, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, world: Middle East, Kashmir, Sri Lanka,
Philippines, Indonesia, Balkans, Caucasus, Philippines, Indonesia, Balkans, Caucasus,
Thailand/Cambodia, Nigeria, etc.Thailand/Cambodia, Nigeria, etc. This pattern should be reversed, through This pattern should be reversed, through
dialogue, good leadership, and cooperation.dialogue, good leadership, and cooperation. Religions should provide peace leadership.Religions should provide peace leadership.
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Preamble to the UN Charter
We the peoples of the United Nations determined, to save to save succeeding generations from the succeeding generations from the scourge of warscourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind.…
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Preamble to the UN Charter
… and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
AND FOR THESE ENDS to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples….
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The Ongoing Scourge of War
Despite tremendous efforts to save to save succeeding generations from the succeeding generations from the scourge of warscourge of war, history recalls
The Korean War (1950-53)The Vietnam War (1959-75)The Balkan Conflicts (1991-96)The Middle EastRwandaDarfurSri LankaThe Caucasus
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Need for an Interreligious Need for an Interreligious CouncilCouncil
The vast majority of “we the peoples” are The vast majority of “we the peoples” are
persons who identify strongly with a persons who identify strongly with a
religious worldview. religious worldview. Non-state actors are increasingly relevant Non-state actors are increasingly relevant
and important: civil society, faith-based and important: civil society, faith-based
organizations, religious movements.organizations, religious movements. Religion can be an ally for peace, and an Religion can be an ally for peace, and an
ally for socio-economic development and ally for socio-economic development and
conflict resolution.conflict resolution.
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Value of Religious Value of Religious TeachingTeaching
All religions teach compassion toward All religions teach compassion toward
those in need and love for one another.those in need and love for one another.
Religions have the potential to foster Religions have the potential to foster
forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration, forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration,
and peace, bringing an end to cycles of and peace, bringing an end to cycles of
resentment and violence.resentment and violence.
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Mahatma Mahatma GandhiGandhi
Dr. Martin Dr. Martin Luther King, Luther King,
Jr. Jr.
MotherMother Teresa Teresa
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Interreligious VoicesInterreligious VoicesContribute to PeaceContribute to Peace
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Call for UN RenewalCall for UN Renewal
World peace can be fully World peace can be fully accomplished only when the accomplished only when the wisdom and efforts of the wisdom and efforts of the world's religious leaders work world's religious leaders work cooperatively and respectfully cooperatively and respectfully with national leaders.with national leaders.
Serious consideration should be Serious consideration should be given to forming a religious given to forming a religious assembly or council of religious assembly or council of religious representatives within the representatives within the structure of the UN.structure of the UN.
Rev. Sun Myung MoonRev. Sun Myung Moon
Address at UN Address at UN HeadquartersHeadquarters
August 18, 2000August 18, 2000
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UN General Assembly UN General Assembly ResolutionsResolutions
““Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue” Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue” (A/RES/59/23, November 2004)(A/RES/59/23, November 2004)
““Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue and Promotion of Interreligious Dialogue and
Cooperation for Peace” Cooperation for Peace” (A/RES/60/10, Oct. 2005)(A/RES/60/10, Oct. 2005)
““Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural
Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation
for Peace” for Peace” (A/RES/60/L.11/Rev.2, December 2006)(A/RES/60/L.11/Rev.2, December 2006)
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Sponsoring NationsSponsoring Nations
Spearheaded by the Philippines. Sponsored bySpearheaded by the Philippines. Sponsored by
AzerbaijanAzerbaijanBangladeshBangladeshBelarusBelarusBelizeBelizeBeninBeninBurkina Burkina FasoFasoCambodiaCambodiaCameroonCameroonComorosComorosCongoCongoCosta RicaCosta RicaDjibouti Djibouti
DominicanDominican RepublicRepublicEgypt Egypt El Salvador El Salvador Gabon Gabon Gambia Gambia Guatemala Guatemala Guinea Guinea Haiti Haiti Honduras Honduras Indonesia Indonesia Iran Iran KazakhstanKazakhstanKuwait Kuwait
Philippines Philippines Qatar Qatar Russian Russian Federation Federation Saint VincentSaint Vincent and the and the Grenadines Grenadines Senegal Senegal Sudan Sudan Suriname Suriname Tajikistan Tajikistan Thailand Thailand Timor-Leste Timor-Leste UzbekistanUzbekistan
Madagascar Madagascar Malaysia Malaysia Marshall Marshall Islands Islands Micronesia Micronesia Mongolia Mongolia Morocco Morocco Myanmar Myanmar Nicaragua Nicaragua OmanOmanPakistanPakistanPanamaPanamaPapua NewPapua New GuineaGuinea
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Focal Unit to Aid DialogueFocal Unit to Aid Dialogue
……insures the systematic and insures the systematic and organizational follow-up of this organizational follow-up of this dialogue through the designation dialogue through the designation of a focal unit in the Secretariat to of a focal unit in the Secretariat to handle these matters.handle these matters.
December 2006 GA ResolutionDecember 2006 GA Resolution
RESULT: Focal unit was established in 2007.RESULT: Focal unit was established in 2007.
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Call for High-Level DialogueCall for High-Level Dialogue
Call for a Call for a “high-level dialogue on interreligious “high-level dialogue on interreligious
and intercultural cooperation for the promotion and intercultural cooperation for the promotion
of tolerance, understanding and universal of tolerance, understanding and universal
respect….”respect….”
RESULT: High-level Dialogue on Interreligious
and Intercultural Understanding and
Cooperation for Peace was held October 4-5,
2007.
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SG Address to High-Level SG Address to High-Level DialogueDialogue
It is time to promote the idea that diversity is a virtue, not a threat. It is time to explain that different religions, belief systems and cultural backgrounds are essential to the richness of the human experience. And it is time to stress that our common humanity is greater-–far greater-–than our outward differences.
Ban Ki-Ban Ki-moonmoon
UN Secretary-GeneralUN Secretary-General
2020
General AssemblyGeneral Assembly and Interreligious Dialogue and Interreligious Dialogue
As a follow-up on an interfaith conference held in Madrid in July 2008, organized by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and King Juan Carlos of Spain, the General Assembly convened a high-level dialogue on November 12-13, 2008 with major world leaders in attendance.
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A UN Interreligious Council:A UN Interreligious Council:MissionMission
As an organ of the UN, the interreligious As an organ of the UN, the interreligious council contributes to the UN’s broad council contributes to the UN’s broad mission, as described in its charter, mission, as described in its charter, bringing the unique wisdom, insight, and bringing the unique wisdom, insight, and capacities of religion in support of the capacities of religion in support of the UN’s efforts to achieve peace and human UN’s efforts to achieve peace and human development.development.
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A UN Interreligious Council: A UN Interreligious Council: FunctionsFunctions
Convene, dialogue, and confer together on Convene, dialogue, and confer together on the critical challenges facing humanitythe critical challenges facing humanity
Advise, guide, and pass resolutions by Advise, guide, and pass resolutions by consensus on issues relevant to peace and consensus on issues relevant to peace and human developmenthuman development
Encourage grass-roots service, Encourage grass-roots service, volunteerism, and activismvolunteerism, and activism
Guide nations and people to act in Guide nations and people to act in accordance with universal spiritual and accordance with universal spiritual and moral principles moral principles
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A UN Interreligious Council:A UN Interreligious Council:MembershipMembership
Possibly 40 councilors representing major Possibly 40 councilors representing major and, on a rotating basis, smaller religions, and, on a rotating basis, smaller religions, as well as spiritual “eminent persons,” for as well as spiritual “eminent persons,” for three-year terms [for example]three-year terms [for example]
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The world must teach its children the wisdom of all cultures.
Dr. Musa Bin Jaafar Bin Hassan (L)
President, UNESCO General Conference
UNESCOUNESCO
2525
Address to High-Level Address to High-Level DialogueDialogue
In today’s era of global travel and instant satellite transmissions, people everywhere are encountering less of the familiar, and more of ‘the other.’ This reality has fed rising intercultural and inter-religious tensions, as well as growing alienation among vast segments of the world population.
Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moon
UN Secretary-GeneralUN Secretary-General
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Address to High-Level Address to High-Level DialogueDialogue
Today’s gathering also comes at a particularly auspicious time, as Jews mark the celebration of the Torah and Muslims approach the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Such occasions remind us that men and women of faith around the world can be brought together, rather than separated, by their convictions and their belief in something greater than themselves.
Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moonUN Secretary-GeneralUN Secretary-General
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CompassionCompassion
All men are responsible for one another.All men are responsible for one another.
Talmud, Sanhedrin 27b (Judaism)Talmud, Sanhedrin 27b (Judaism) Give and it will be given to you. Give and it will be given to you.
Luke 6.38 (Christianity)Luke 6.38 (Christianity) All [human] creatures are God’s children, and All [human] creatures are God’s children, and
those dearest to God are those who treat His those dearest to God are those who treat His
children kindly. children kindly.
Hadith of Baihaqi (Islam)Hadith of Baihaqi (Islam) The Great Compassionate Heart is the essence of The Great Compassionate Heart is the essence of
Buddhahood. Buddhahood. Gandavyuha Sutra Gandavyuha Sutra
(Buddhism)(Buddhism)
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Love for the EnemyLove for the Enemy
Love your enemies and pray for those who Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, so that you may be sons of persecute you, so that you may be sons of
your Father who is in heaven. your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5.43-48 (Christianity)Matthew 5.43-48 (Christianity)
The good deed and the evil are not alike. Repel The good deed and the evil are not alike. Repel
the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! the evil deed with one which is better, then lo!
He with whom you had enmity shall become a He with whom you had enmity shall become a
bosom friend. bosom friend. Qur’an 41.34 (Islam)Qur’an 41.34 (Islam)
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Love for the EnemyLove for the Enemy
Aid an enemy before you aid a friend, to Aid an enemy before you aid a friend, to
subdue hatred.subdue hatred.
Tosefta, Baba Metzia 2.26 (Judaism)Tosefta, Baba Metzia 2.26 (Judaism) Hatreds never cease through hatred in Hatreds never cease through hatred in
this world; through love alone they cease. this world; through love alone they cease. Dhammapada 3-5 (Buddhism)Dhammapada 3-5 (Buddhism)
Do good to him who has done you an Do good to him who has done you an
injury. injury. Tao Te Ching 63 (Taoism)Tao Te Ching 63 (Taoism)
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What is UPF?What is UPF?
A broad, civil society movement…A broad, civil society movement… ……made up of individuals and made up of individuals and
organizationsorganizations ……guided by universal principlesguided by universal principles ……working together to solve critical working together to solve critical
global problems and build a world of global problems and build a world of
lasting peacelasting peace ……one family under Godone family under God
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UPF’s Guiding PrinciplesUPF’s Guiding Principles
All human beings share a common origin, God, the All human beings share a common origin, God, the
source of the value of human beings and nature.source of the value of human beings and nature. Unselfishness service, living for the sake of others, Unselfishness service, living for the sake of others,
is an essential pre-requisite of peace.is an essential pre-requisite of peace. The reconciliation that is necessary to achieve The reconciliation that is necessary to achieve
peace requires that we learn to love our enemies.peace requires that we learn to love our enemies. The family is the primary school of love and ethics.The family is the primary school of love and ethics. Interfaith cooperation is necessary for lasting peace.Interfaith cooperation is necessary for lasting peace.
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Call for UN RenewalCall for UN Renewal
We must supplement formal We must supplement formal institutions with informal policy institutions with informal policy networks, bringing together networks, bringing together international institutions, civil society international institutions, civil society and private-sector organizations, and and private-sector organizations, and national governments, in pursuit of national governments, in pursuit of common goals.common goals.
Kofi AnnanKofi Annan
former UN Secretary-Generalformer UN Secretary-General
““We the Peoples,” April 3, 2000 We the Peoples,” April 3, 2000
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Call for UN RenewalCall for UN Renewal
The time has come for the United The time has come for the United Nations to outline its working Nations to outline its working relationship with civil society relationship with civil society organizations.organizations.
H.E. Anwarul K. ChowdhuryH.E. Anwarul K. Chowdhury
former UN Under-Secretary-Generalformer UN Under-Secretary-General
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Religion Contributes to Religion Contributes to PeacePeace
The negotiations between Menachem Begin, Anwar el-Sadat, and myself at Camp David in 1978 were greatly influenced by our religious backgrounds. This was evident in the fact that a joint appeal for prayer preceded our discussions… Begin and Sadat were deeply religious men.
Jimmy Jimmy Carter Carter
Former President, United StatesFormer President, United States
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An Idea Whose Time Has An Idea Whose Time Has ComeCome
We believe the creation of an We believe the creation of an interreligious council or a specific unit interreligious council or a specific unit on interfaith understanding within the on interfaith understanding within the UN system is an idea whose time has UN system is an idea whose time has come.come.
Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr. Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr. Former Speaker, House of RepresentativesFormer Speaker, House of Representatives
PhilippinesPhilippines
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