Moving Beyond Pious Thoughts, Prayers, and Hug Fests: How Can Religions Really Contribute to World Peace?

In a recent interfaith discussion on achieving peace, a proposal for a call for action, rather than issuing bland statements, was objected to by a cleric: “The resolution of … conflict is beyond the scope and ability of [religious] entities.” Is that so? ‘Religious peacemaking’, an unreported field, provides successful examples in mediation and reduction of conflict. In the Balkans, religious leaders inspired by scriptures worked effectively to achieve peace. Jain, Sikh, and Zoroastrian panelists will present their faith-based views on achieving peace.