CBA General Conference - 2004
NEWS AND SPEECHES
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The opportunities Afforded by Diversity
Encouraging Inter-Faith & Inter- Ethnic Dialogue
Dr. Javad Mottaghi- Director, AIBD
The Asia–Pacific region with 2/3rd of the world’s population is diverse in economy, culture, religion, politics, language, social and traditional life. 50% of the population in the Asia- Pacific region are below the age of 35. Many countries in this region as you all know, are experiencing all aspects of diversity within their own societies. Despite such a diverse situation at regional and national level, we do believe that diversity is not a threat and could be an enrichment of human community. And now, let me share the following points with you:
1- If political and economical powers believe in dialogue, there would be hope for a better life in the least developed part of the world, disadvantaged and marginalized societies. If dialogue is being considered as a key principal, a large portion of the concern of those who oppose globalization might be relieved. The fear of dissolving various cultures in a dominating culture will be resolved through dialogue as dialogue would only be possible if other cultures can continue to exist. Through a thorough dialogue, we would neither face extreme separation nor witness melting various cultures. The magic art of dialogue would make cooperation and co- existing possible. It is through dialogue that common track will be paved and creating a common path would enable the international community to work together, live together and tackle their common obstacles. Instead of exporting strange prescriptions to other societies, through dialogue, we could try to identify the various obstacles that our counterparts are faced with and we would help them to find the best solution to suit their own society.
2- People all over the world would like to live in peace. They are fed up with and oppose violence. Media can help by creating a culture of peace by fostering the basic principle of dialogue, which would result in a better understanding, tolerance and peace. People‘s awareness is the key to put an end to conflict and the key is in the hands of media professionals. We have a proverb in my language, which suggests: “The human tongue is like the iron and stone. Fire is a result of clashing iron and stone. Every word without wisdom and control might create fire. The tongue should not move in the mouth without knowledge and wisdom. The proverb also says that the world is dark and full of cotton farms. Any immature word may put fire on the world and create conflict. The world might be destroyed by just a word or a sentence”. I guess this reflects the responsibility of media professionals.
3- Religion is playing an increasingly important role in the world today, and so it is crucial that people from different faiths could understand each other. Mutual misunderstandings need to be removed and every religion should be studied in its proper perspective. The focus should be on trying to explore those common factors in the various religions and, on that basis, efforts should be made for people to co- operate with each other. All religions are based on the concept of the unity of humankind as fellow creatures. They stress on Man’s responsibilities to the people and the whole of God’s creation. Religion has always been a force that has impelled people to serve others, but it has also been subjected to misuse by politicians and people with vested interests for their own worldly concerns. If people from different faith closely interact, it is likely that they will come to appreciate the good points that the others have and may become aware of their own shortcomings leading to a consensus. Moreover, their differences may narrow down in the process. The basic message of the Holy Quran is essentially the same as that revealed to all the other prophets of God that appeared in the world before the advent of the Prophet Muhammad. As the Holy Prophet Muhammad says: “A word of wisdom is the lost property of the believer [mumin]. He deserves it wherever he finds it”. And words of wisdom can also be found in parts of other scriptures, too. An important aspect of inter- religious dialogue is the clearing up of misconceptions and prejudices that people of one religion have about the followers of another.
4- On the question of Inter- Faith Dialogue and Inter- Faith Action - What Comes First, we should pay attention to what Makes for Peace in Our Region?"
Some scholars and activists who have written about inter- religious dialogue speak about two levels of interaction—firstly, at the theological level, and then at the level of co- operative efforts for social action. On the question of how religious communities could work together in the face of theological and ideological differences, the media should urge people to leave theological debates aside and start engaging in activities that foster peace in the region as soon as possible. "Let's first do something together and go into debate about our differences at a later stage. There is enough common ground between religions to work for peace here and now. "To discuss theological differences is not a priority, peace is a priority.
5- Others may say, "You cannot respect something that you don't know. The required information about each other's faith could be a prerequisite for respectful dialogue. "We do not have to go into theological debate," "but if Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and others want to live peacefully next to each other as good neighbors and colleagues they need to know about their customs, traditions and beliefs in order to avoid conflict." This is where the role of media is important. Every country/nation has its own share of culture. Media can help understanding and peace by creating a culture of dialogue among different cultures based on mutual respect and understanding.
We often hear that after the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 the world has changed. In reality, the world is no different; it has just seen its true self and … got terrified. What the September 11 events did show is how far we are from ethical and cultural globalization. The media with its watchdog role and civil society could work closely together to strengthen ethical issues and to bridge the gap of differences in many areas.
6- The reality is that media could encourage Christian and Muslim leaders and scholars to establish an on – going dialogue. The beliefs and values of Islam and Christianity influence the lives of billions of people. If they are to live together with a well- informed and sympathetic understanding of each other, there is a crucial educational role for media to interpret such values in practical solutions in today's world. That understanding is important. Such a dialogue could involve not just reaching out to groups of a different faith, but also a willingness to turn our attention to challenges like globalization, the environment and poverty. Initiatives such as The World Faiths Development Dialogue, bringing together religions and financial institutions, demonstrates that moral energy and credibility of different faiths could be harnessed through shared action to address some of the world's most pressing problems.
7- Every tree is to be known by its fruits: not by its dead wood or thorns or parasites, but by the fruit of its own inner life and nature. The flowers of unselfish living may be found growing in other people's gardens, and . . . rich fruits of the Spirit may be tasted from other people's trees.