Geneva meeting seeks greater understanding among religions

[Chief Editor]

Geneva meeting seeks greater understanding among religions
P.K. Abdul Ghafour | Arab News



UNITED FOR A CAUSE: A view of the audience attending the opening session of the interfaith conference in Geneva on Wednesday. (AN photo)


GENEVA: The latest international conference on interfaith dialogue — the fourth in a series initiated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah — began here on Wednesday with a call for greater understanding among the followers of different religions and culture in order to promote human welfare and world peace.

Speakers and delegates attending the conference at Geneva’s InterContinental hotel expressed the hope that these international forums would develop a culture of dialogue among the followers of different faiths. They also believe that dialogue should first focus on common values instead of differences if it is to succeed.Abdullah Al-Turki, secretary-general of the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL), the main organizer of the conference, highlighted the global recognition of King Abdullah’s interfaith initiative. The UN General Assembly held a special session on interfaith in November and endorsed the recommendations of the Madrid conference, the second in the series, held in June 2008.

“The MWL is looking forward to the day when this initiative becomes a humanitarian project that will be implemented through a series of conferences, seminars and other programs involving organizations and personalities from around the world,” Al-Turki said in his address at the opening session.

Religious leaders and academics from nearly 40 countries are taking part in the two-day event. They include: Bandar Al-Eiban, president of the Human Rights Commission in Saudi Arabia; William Baker, president of Christians and Muslims for Peace in the US; Rev. Xue Cheng, vice chairman of Buddhist Association of China; Faisal bin Muammar, Saudi deputy minister of education; Sri Ravi Shankar, a renowned scholar on Hinduism; and Mohammad Ali Al-Taskhiri, general-secretary of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought in Iran.

The MWL chief expressed satisfaction over the global trend toward dialogue. He referred to the speech of US President Barack Obama at the University of Cairo in June, saying it could help build the right atmosphere for greater understanding between the followers of different faiths and cultures through dialogue. He pointed out that Obama had welcomed King Abdullah’s interfaith initiative.

Al-Turki expressed the hope that interfaith dialogue forums would create greater understanding among the followers of different religions, promote goodwill within the human family, consolidate the foundations of peace and friendships among nations and encourage them to work together for the welfare and betterment of all mankind. The MWL had given top priority to interfaith dialogue in its activities, he said.

It also sees it as helping enhance the image of Islam and Muslims worldwide. “The main objectives of the king’s initiative are to uphold human values, establish justice, promote cooperation, protect human rights, preserve the family system and end conflicts.”

Al-Turki was confident that the Geneva meeting would generate greater global and popular support for the king’s initiative to promote a culture of dialogue among nations, organizations and individuals. “That culture of dialogue will eventually lead to opening new horizons of understanding and building stronger bridges for cooperation.”

Al-Eiban, who delivered the Kingdom’s speech at the opening session, emphasized the importance of focusing on values shared by all religions. “The focus on differences by followers of different faiths and cultures had led to fanaticism and destructive wars,” he said.

The president of Swiss Confederation was represented by Muriel Berset, councillor of the Swiss delegation at the United Nations’ European headquarters in Geneva. She pledged Switzerland’s all-out support for the Saudi king’s initiative. She also highlighted her country’s efforts to promote world peace by hosting several meetings. “We welcome all of you to Geneva, the city of peace and dialogue,” she said in Arabic.

Navanethem Pillay, the UN high commissioner for human rights, also addressed the opening session. She urged religious leaders to consider the welfare of humanity and protection of human rights while interpreting religious texts.

The Rev. Samuel Kobia, general secretary of World Council of Churches, based in Geneva, underscored his organization’s efforts to promote interfaith dialogue. “We should respect the differences in our faiths and beliefs,” said Kobia, whose organization represents the world’s Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican churches.

Delegates said they were pinning high hopes on the conference. Walter Schwimmer, chairman of the International Coordination Committee for Dialogue of Civilizations, stressed the need to invite those who are not yet ready for dialogue. “In this conference and the previous ones we have seen only those people who support the idea.”

He, however, believed these conferences would contribute to spreading a spirit of dialogue among people of different faiths.

Shantilal Somaiya, who runs several educational institutions in Mumbai, was equally excited. He said he was ready to provide every support to organize a similar conference in India. Somaiya met with Al-Turki on the sidelines of the conference.

Rabbi Steven Jacobs, founder of Los Angeles-based Progressive Faith Foundation, stressed the positive effective of the conferences. He said it would contribute to solving major political issues, including the Arab-Israeli conflict.

“These forums provide an opportunity for leaders of different faiths to meet with one another, exchange views and get to know each other more closely,” he said.