In Defense of Freedom and Human Rights: An Interfaith Approach of Peace and Nonviolence

Worldwide democracy and human rights are in peril. The post-Cold War ushered an era of optimism toward the march of freedom. However, the twenty-first century has brought on political and cultural polarization, economic inequality within and among countries, and the rise of illiberalism. Threats of war, violence, and hate crimes were exacerbated by the climate crisis, global migration, the spread of diseases, and the pandemic of misinformation. This session revisits contemporary approaches and applications to peace and nonviolence by Buddhism (Thich Nhat Hanh and the 14th Dalai Lama) and Jesus’s teachings (Martin Luther King and Saint Oscar Romero). The session aims to initiate a discussion and evaluation of nonviolent strategies addressing various challenges within a country and in the global situation. Participants are expected to share stories and experiences and assess viable strategies toward an interfaith approach to enhancing freedom and defending human rights.