INTERFAITH EFFORTS FOR THE
COMMON GOOD

Interfaith dialogue can be used to create a platform to unite peace-loving people from different religious backgrounds worldwide to work for the common good.

I have participated in many dialogues. Interfaith and intercommunity dialogue can achieve peace in pluralistic societies and promote harmony, mutual learning, and peace-building. From my experience, I can say that differences can best be meaningfully and constructively managed through peaceful and positive dialogue between adherents of different faiths based on mutual respect. A principal aim of such dialogue should be to seek peaceful solutions to controversial matters.

In my view, inter-religious dialogue does not simply mean telling others about your religion. It also means discovering and appreciating wise and good things in other religions and learning from the insights and experiences of their adherents. Therefore, I say that inter-religious dialogue should be for mutual learning. Ethical principles from various religions can be used to inculcate good moral conduct in people. Such ethical training of the adherents of religion is sure to yield positive results. When dialogue is undertaken in this manner, it can help individuals grow as better human beings.

In this way, we can create a platform for uniting peace-loving people across the globe from different religious backgrounds to work for the common good. I share here some of my personal experiences and interactions with people.