Peace between religions is impossible without agreement

To resolve conflicts around the world, there is a need for a new ethical order constructed by world religions. That was one of the principal themes at the opening on Tuesday of an exhibition and conference initiated by György Hölvényi, co-president of the EPP’s Interreligious Dialogue working group in the European Parliament, Strasbourg.

As the host of the event, György Hölvényi recalled, “We need a sort of awakening, an implementation of common ethical principles that are shared globally through the cooperation of all good-willed people, politicians and religious leaders”. The exhibition featured, among other universal principles, non-aggression, justice and positive relations between men and women. The MEP emphasized that “a Christian Democratic group always needs to keep these principles on the agenda while working for European integration and the common good”.

Speakers included Manfred Weber, leader of the EPP in the European Parliament; Mairead McGuinness, Vice-President of the EP; and Günther Gebhardt, head of department at the Weltethos Foundation of Tübingen, dealing with global ethics and interreligious dialogue. Speakers called attention to the common ethical basis and importance of dialogue between the six world religions through Swiss Catholic theologian Hans Küng’s work on global ethics.

EPP leader Manfred Weber emphasized that new, global challenges threaten the co-existence of humanity and nations – and to resolve them we should not ignore the common ethical teaching of world religions. “Therefore, today’s event – organized by the working group for interreligious dialogue – is an important step towards better familiarizing Europe with the common principles as well as enforcing them,” the MEP added.

“Universal peace can only be achieved through the cooperation of people with a common ethical mindset,” said Günther Gebhardt. The German theologian reminded that preaching non-aggression, solidarity and respect for life is especially important today for politics and world religions as well.