Religions for Peace issues declaration on tolerance

On Wednesday 28 April ECRL concluded its annual meeting in Istanbul and issued the Istanbul Declaration on Tolerance: Our Commitment to Justice, Equality and Sharing which also reflects the meeting’s main theme.

«Tolerance is an active recognition of diversity and means respecting the otherness of the other with whom we differ religiously, culturally, or otherwise, with compassion and benevolence. Tolerance does not mean unconditional approval of the ideas of others nor of the way they live their lives. Tolerance means respecting the other’s human rights, but not necessarily sharing his or her viewpoints.»

The council members found that taken in this comprehensive sense, tolerance should be nourished as it is a precondition for a culture of peace in Europe. The council found that this understanding of tolerance naturally grows out of their religious traditions.

The Istanbul Declaration contains eight specific points in which the religious leaders commit themselves to working to promote religious freedom and mutual respect as well as «to engage in self-critical scrutiny» in order to counter intolerance.

The declaration was inspired by a discussion on the theme: «Equality – More equal than others? Minarets, minorities and European identity» which revealed a shared understanding that Europe is and always has been a multicultural and multireligious continent. On the issue of the Swiss ban on minarets one presenter observed that «instead of attacking extremism and terrorism, Europe attacks its own heritage, the very presence of Muslims in Europe». The discussion further addressed anti-semitism as a growing problem in Europe at the moment. Some members pointed out that even Christians, the traditional majority in most European countries, can experience hateful attacks.

On Wednesday the council examined a process to develop a universal code on holy sites in which Religions for Peace is playing a central role. The process involves religious leaders from Europe and the Middle East, and was endorsed by the council.

After the meeting a delegation from ECRL had an audience with HH the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew where they shared their tolerance declaration.

You may read the Istanbul Declaration on Tolerance: Our Commitment on Justice, Equality and Sharing here.

The meeting in Istanbul is hosted by the President of Religious Affairs in Turkey, Dr Ali Bardakoglu who is also an ECRL member. Among the other 30 participants are Grand Mufti Dr Mustafa Ceric (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt (Russia), Sister Marian Murcia (Italy), Metropolitan Emmanuel (France), Bhai Saheeb Mohinder Singh (UK), and Father Philip Ryabykh (Russia) representing Metropolitan Hilarion.

European Council of Religious Leaders

04.05.2010, 2485 просмотров.