Interfaith Peacemaking: CRDC Hosts Activists Sharing Narratives of Peace
As part of its ongoing efforts to sponsor citizen diplomacy and interfaith dialog, the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution (CRDC) at ICAR hosted an event on Monday, April 26, 2010 on the topic of “Interfaith Peacemaking: Creating a Narrative of Peace.” The two guest speakers for the event were, Kia Scherr and Reverend Charles Gibbs. Scherr and Gibbs each shared powerful stories of working to build cultures of peace, justice, and healing through interfaith cooperation. They talked about how their respective organizations engage these issues and shared some of their best practices for local, regional, and global organizing.
Kia Scherr opened the event with a particularly poignant, moving, and personal story. Speaking from her heart, Kia shared how her husband and daughter were killed in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Instead of perpetuating the cycle of violence, Kia determined to respond with love and forgiveness towards the terrorists, eventually starting the organization, One Life Alliance, to inspire and encourage conversations that honor the sacredness of life.
After Scherr's presentation, Reverend Charles Gibbs introduced his work with the United Religions Initiative (URI). Gibbs started with the story of its founding in 1993. After being invited by the UN to host an interfaith service, Episcopal Bishop William Swing asked himself, “If the nations of the world are working together for peace through the UN, then where are the religions of the world?” URI emerged as an answer to this question—as an organization where people of diverse faiths and from all sectors of society cooperate for peace and justice. Today URI has thousands of members in over 65 countries representing more than 100 religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions.
After the presentations a rich discussion ensued, which inspired and engaged the audience. Topics that were explored included the power of inner spiritual work in promoting peace, the concept of grassroots organizing being uniquely suited to meet local needs, the power of forgiveness, the frustration at the lack of media interest in peace work, and the need to come together collectively in our efforts to build a more peaceful world. The evening ending with participants and presenters mingling and exchanging contact information and expressing their interest in staying connected.
It can sometimes be overwhelming to think of the conflicts and challenges facing humanity today. In his book, To Make the Earth Whole, CRDC Director, Marc Gopin proposes that "the most clear networkers for peace... are not necessarily those in positions of religious authority, but it is rather those people who are passionately committed to expanding their networks and reaching out through gestures." Scherr and Gibbs are examples of just such a commitment to activism, modeling the power of incremental positive change through the dedications and sincere actions of peacemakers.