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peace
Building Peaceful Relations between Religious Communities
Religious leaders meeting in Alexandria
Here is an example from the work of the
World Conference on Religions
for Peace:
The First Alexandria Declaration of the Religious Leaders of the Holy Land, January 21, 2002
In the Name of God who is Almighty, Merciful and Compassionate, we, who have gathered as religious leaders from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities, pray for true peace in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and declare our commitment to ending the violence and bloodshed that denies the right to life and dignity.
According to our faith traditions, killing innocents in the name of God is a desecration of his Holy Name, and defames religion in the world. The violence in the Holy Land is an evil which must be opposed by all people of good faith. We seek to live together as neighbours, respecting the integrity of each other's historical and religious inheritance. We call upon all to oppose incitement, hatred and the misrepresentation of the other.
1. The Holy Land is Holy to all three of our
faiths. Therefore, followers of the divine religions must respect its
sanctity, and bloodshed must not be allowed to pollute it. The sanctity
and integrity of the Holy Places must be preserved, and freedom of religious
worship must be ensured for all.
2. Palestinians and Israelis must respect the divinely ordained purposes
of the Creator by whose grace they live in the same land that is called
Holy.
3. We call on the political leaders of both parties to work for a just,
secure and durable solution in the spirit of the words of the Almighty
and the Prophets.
4. As a first step now, we call for a religiously sanctioned cease-fire,
respected and observed on all sides, and for the implementation of the
Mitchell and Tenet recommendations, including the lifting of restrictions
and a return to negotiations.
5. We seek to help create an atmosphere where present and future generations
will co-exist with mutual respect and trust in the other. We call on
all to refrain from incitement and demonization, and to educate our
future generations accordingly.
6. As religious leaders, we pledge ourselves to continue a joint quest
for a just peace that leads to reconciliation in Jerusalem and the Holy
Land, for the common good of all our peoples.
7. We announce the establishment of a permanent joint committee to carry
out the recommendations of this declaration, and to engage with our
respective political leadership accordingly.
Delegates
His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. George Carey
His Eminence Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi
The Sephardi Chief Rabbi Bakshi-Doron
The Deputy Foreign Minister, Rabbi Michael Melchior
The Rabbi of Tekoa, Rabbi Menachem Fromen
Rabbi David Rosen, President of the WCRP
The Rabbi of Savyon, Rabbi David Brodman
Rabbi Yitzak Ralbag, Rabbi of Maalot Dafna
Chief Justice of the Sharia Courts, Sheikh Taisir Tamimi
Minister of State for the PA, Sheikh Talal El Sider
Mufti of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Abdulsalam Abu Schkedem
The Mufti of Bethlehem, Sheikh Taweel
Representative of the Greek Patriarch, Archbishop Anastasios
The Latin Patriarch, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah
The Melkite Archbishop, Archbishop Boutrous Mu'alem Representative of
the Armenian Patriarch, Archbishop Chinchinian
The Bishop of Jerusalem, The Rt. Rev. Riah Abu El Assal
For other examples
Contents / Introduction / Prayers / Peace or Conflict / Peaceful Relations / Peace Issues / Conflict / Reconciliation / Peace Initiatives / Messengers of Peace / Summary / Inspiration / Real Peace / Resources
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interfaith organisations network 2003 |