SBS 318--Spring 1996
Final Declaration of Class
on
HOW RELIGIONS CAN HELP SUPPORT PEACE, COOPERATION, AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE WORLD
Based on Core Values of Each Religion Which Other Religions Can Support
FINAL DECLARATION OF THE CLASS
AS REPRESENTATIVES OF DIFFERENT WORLD RELIGIONS
on
HOW RELIGIONS CAN COOPERATE IN THE WORLD TO SUPPORT
CORE HUMAN VALUES, INCLUDING PEACE
(INSTEAD OF WAR, VIOLENCE, AND CONFLICT)
INTRODUCTION:
The people in this class represented and did research on various world religions. The following declaration represents our collective effort, as representatives of different world religions, at expressing the core universal principles of the religions, that we would like to support in the world.
INNER PEACE
All the major religions of the world believe in inner peace of one form or another. The western world primarily believes that you seek outer peace and accomplish inner peace inadvertently. The eastern world cultivates inner peace first and outer peace is the natural product.
PEACE, HARMONY, & NONVIOLENCE
Most religions have a basic need or desire for peace and harmony in their environment and lives and prefer non-violence to attain their goals. Most believe the way to achieve this is through God. Unfortunately, some religious individuals will fight and sacrifice their lives in the name of their religion.
RESPECT FOR LIFE
The respect for life develops within each individual. It is reflected upon the rest of the elements of nature. Having respect for life is having respect for the creation of living things, not limited to mankind nor to nature itself. Having respect for life is having respect for feelings, and sensations that only life and anything alive could perceive. The respect for life includes and promotes its procreation while discouraging its eradication.
MEDITATION AND PRAYER
Meditation:
Any type of quiet time one takes to relax his or her mind.
Prayer:
This is where one prays to the God of his or her own understanding.
SEXUAL ABSTINENCE
Webster dictionary defines sexual abstinence as the act of self denial or refrain. But, from a religious view point sexual abstinence can best be practiced if everyone thought of their body as a holy temple not being invaded by anyone until the day of matrimony.
RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY
On a universal level cultures could learn a lot from the eastern cultures about t respect for the elderly. Instead of putting our elderly into home when they get older, there is a lot of wisdom that they have to pass on to everyone. As the aborigines said that they donıt celebrate them for getting better. We could gain lots of knowledge and could pass on lots of valuable information to us. A lot of things that we may go through may be something that they have been through and could enlighten us to and make the road for us a little smoother.
FASTING
As seen in some of the religions studied we find that fasting is considered to be a type of purification of the mind and body. A time to cleanse a time to e at peace with oneıs self.
Fasting, which allows there to be an opportunity to confess past transgressions and for them to be pardoned.
EQUALITY OF PEOPLE
We support the Western belief that people are equal before the law.
We support equal respect and the movement towards equal opportunity.
PEACE AND COOPERATION IN THE WORLD
The Buddhist goal is to reach a state of Nirvana. One achieves this through the following:
1. proper seeing
2. proper thinking
3. proper speech
4. proper action
5. proper livelihood
6. proper effort
7. proper mindfulness
8. proper concentration
The means to succeed need not be practiced only when practical, but practiced to its uttermost extremes. Only then would a Buddhist reach a state of eternal peace and bliss.
Given the means by way of the eightfold path, a Buddhist need only be focused to achieve his goal.
The same goes for all religions. Each religion has a goal of salvation, eternal bliss, enlightenment, perfection, fulfillment, deliverance, etc. If we could all focus on means of achieving our goals, we and our religions can help support peace and cooperation in the world.
LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
If we find forgiveness within ourselves as individuals, then peace
within families, communities, nations and the world will become a real possibility. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
SACRIFICES
It is important to recall that sacrifices are an essential part of religion. The act of giving up something or someone, or even in some cases oneself has a close relationship to the act of love and respect for the all powerful and mighty god, deity or goddess; depending on the religion we are referring to. Maybe the core of sacrifice is the assurance that we, as humans, could have the ability to disposes of our most valued belongings, or our most beloved ones and in sometimes ourselves for the sake of our beliefs, to please our god(s), or for the sake of those that will benefit from our sacrifice.
THE GOLDEN RULE
Versions of the Golden Rule exist in most religions around the world. In the east, religions such as Hinduism, Confucianism, and Buddhism emphasize achieving harmony with self, nature, and society. The eastern Golden Rule is, ³Do onto others as you would want them to do onto you.² The western religions also value peace and harmony amongst the people as portrayed in Christianityıs belief, ³Respect thy neighbor.² Violence (non-peace) is now a world-wide illness. If we can learn to interact within our societies with the Golden Rule and/or its variations in mind, we will be able t achieve our common goal of world peace.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Social justice is necessary in order to have peace in the world. It is through institutuions such as the church, school, government agencies that should be promoted. It is by empowering people, not by providing servce, we can achieve social justice. By giving people the opportunity and the tools to be self-sufficient rather than dependent, it is how we are going to promote it; but in order to achieve it, equality has to be promoted in all the institutuions and areas such as: work, education, health, religion, etc. Participation and involvement in the political system is also necessary. Natural resources and wealth have to be equally distributed, otherwise peace will be always at risk. God was burning into the hearts of the Jews through their suffering a passion for freedom and justice that would affect all humankind.