Davos Open Forum 2007 - Religion: Source of Peace or War?

Religion: Source of Peace or Cause of Violence and War?
World religions have always been used for the good, but they have also been misused. Recently, however, the media has linked religious extremism with violence. Religion appears to be increasingly instrumentalized to fuel hate, secure political power and strengthen claims to absolutism.
1) How can religion's potentially peaceful role be strengthened? How can religion be protected from abuse?
2) What are the contributions of places of worship and religious communities? Are they a part of the problem?
3) Can religions be criticized? What are the limits of legitimate criticism?
Gret Haller, Senior Lecturer, Johann Wolfgang Goethe - University, Germany
Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, Ireland
Farhan A. Nizami, Director, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, United Kingdom
Konrad Raiser, Visiting Professor, Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Germany
Introduced by
Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister of Pakistan
Moderated by
Bendicht Luginbühl, Journalist, Switzerland

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Davos
• Open
• Forum
• 2005
• World
• Economic
• Weltwirtschaftsforum
• WEF
• Haller
• Diarmuid
• Martin
• Farhan
• Nizami
• Raiser
• Shaukat
• Aziz

[abseiduk]

I think Dr Farhan Nizimi has made some rally good points especially about religion giving believes two things 'believing' and 'belonging' and that the latter being the problem and that this is also found in many secular ideologies.

[canabismanabis]

Inter-faith harmony is a oxymoron. Religion is a wedge between people not a bridge. when it is a bridge it unifies to challenge or destroy something.

[kristimjlove]

If religion and politics shouldn't mix, then why does the Catholic Church get sooo much attention- because it is a superpower whether you see see it or not- it is. Beware of anything from their teachings- and the Pope is not father- only God in heaven is our FATHER and when he comes you will know it because he will come from the heavens not any Church here on earth. Listen- beware.

[spainalways]

I deeply agree with Mr Aziz's opinion regarding on how religions should be gather together in order to help make a better world understanding. For our own benefit we should all have a knowledge about other faiths in order to respect them and understand them well.

It would be very interesting to discuss and get deeper about this subject with Mr. Aziz.