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Leaders of various religions discuss roots of communal conflict in Asia Print E-mail
Written by UCA News   
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Participants at a recent seminar highlighted the need to address religious exclusivism and poor socioeconomic conditions in order to reduce conflict between religious communities in Asia.

The delegates, who included about 20 religious leaders from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Korea, discussed religious conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Philippines.

The gathering was held July 17-19 in Seoul on the theme Conflicts and Dialogue: Peace-building in Discordant Areas and the Roles of Religious People.

Ryoo Jung-gil, an official of Peace Foundation in South Korea, maintained all disputes arise from people demanding that others "do what I say" or "be the same as me."

"The idea that I am right and you are wrong, and that my religion is absolute and yours is not, is the beginning of violence," he said.

He recalled the July 19, 2007, kidnapping of 23 Korean Protestant missioners in Afghanistan by Taliban militants, and criticized the lack of respect for other cultures and religions among some Korean Protestants.

"Most Christian missionary groups (provide) aid and relief," he said, "but the difference between them and other NGOs is that their final aim is to make local people convert to Christianity."

Ryoo, chief of planning and coordination for his foundation, argued that it is wrong to exploit the plight of starving people in this regard.

Of the missionary team members who were kidnapped, two were killed by their captors. The rest were released 42 days later.

Ustadz Exmael Ebrahim, executive director of Mindanao Integrated Network Development (MIND) Center in the Philippines, told the seminar that poor socioeconomic conditions in his southern Philippine region are the main reason for conflicts between majority Catholics and minority Muslims.

About 4 million Muslims live in the Mindanao region, the poorest of the three main Philippine island groups. Development agencies attribute the poverty partly to armed conflicts in the region, including the centuries-old Muslim rebellion here.

Ebrahim said the concerted efforts of every member of the community, the government, liberation movements, religious leaders, civil society and the international community could pave the road to peace there.

However, Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao, also based in Mindanao, pointed out that various attempts at socioeconomic solutions have failed so far. He added that other measures are also likely to fail unless the wounds of the indigenous Moro people, many of whom are Muslims and who have suffered suspicion, prejudice, discrimination and violence, are healed.

"Social healing based on the Bible and the Qur'an should come first before other measures for peace in the region. Peace in the region should be based on integrity and holiness, not accords on paper," he stressed.

Abdulnasir Hussin Ameer, a representative of the Inter-religious Council in Iraq, identified the main cause of conflicts among Islamic sects, denominations and tribes in his country as their self-centered mind-set and misunderstanding of religious texts. He said this leads them to commit extremist acts.

To solve the problem, he continued, moderation needs to be stressed in the various religious, political and social arenas "to spread the culture of dialogue and to forsake extremism."

Archbishop Capalla told UCA News on July 18 that Asian delegates from various religions taking part in such an interreligious dialogue is a "positive sign." He said the seminar would widen the network of peace-loving religious people "and help us make good friends."

Thirty Korean delegates attended the event organized by the International Peace Corps of Religions, which the Korean Conference on Religion and Peace (KCRP) founded in May to enhance international interfaith activities. It plans to promote peace research and education, international volunteer work and relief activities.

Anglican Father Abraham Kim Gwang-joon, KCRP secretary general, told UCA News the seminar was held to stress "the importance of interreligious dialogue" and build up a network among religions to work for peace in the world.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 22 July 2008 )