Lebanese interreligious foundation Adyan awarded Niwano Peace Prize

·       Good News keeps coming

Mik

    Courtesy CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Doreen Abi Raad

Feb 20, 2018

In this 2013 file photo, interreligious leaders gather in Beirut for Adyan Foundation's launch of their first toolkit for faith-based educational institutions on values of citizenship and public life. (Credit: CNS photo/courtesy Adyan Foundation.

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BEIRUT - Adyan, a Lebanese foundation for interreligious studies and spiritual solidarity, is the recipient of the 35th Niwano Peace Prize.

Lebanon now moves “a firm step further toward its recognition as a world center for dialogue between cultures and religions,” said Maronite Father Fadi Daou, president of Adyan Foundation, in announcing the international award in Beirut Feb. 19.

“Peace has a specific name in Lebanon, and that is ‘living-together,'” he added.

Daou is one of the five founders of Adyan (“religions” in Arabic), each of whom are followers of different denominations of Christianity and Islam.

Since its foundation in 2006, Adyan “has worked to take interreligious dialogue from apologetic debates and populist complacency, to a common commitment in what we call ‘religious social responsibility,'” Daou said.

The Tokyo-based Niwano Peace Foundation established the Niwano Peace Prize in 1983 to honor and encourage individuals and organizations that have contributed significantly to interreligious cooperation, thereby furthering the cause of world peace. It is named for Nikkyo Niwano, founder and first president of the lay Buddhist organization Rissho Kosei-kai.

The award’s selection committee commended Adyan for valuing “religious diversity in promoting peace and social justice” and cited Adyan as “a visible and committed actor for peace in Lebanon and the broader region.”

Past Niwano Peace Prize recipients include Brazilian Archbishop Helder Camara; Jordanian Prince El Hassan bin Talal; retired Archbishop Elias Chacour of Haifa, Israel; the late Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Mexico; Father Hans Kung, a Swiss theologian; the World Muslim Congress; and the Sant’Egidio Community.

Daou recalled St. John Paul II’s declaration that “Lebanon is more than a country, it is a message” of coexistence for East and West.

“I really believe that this award, coming from Japan, is ‘another voice’ - now from the East - to remind us of what John Paul II said,” the priest said.

“Worldwide, peace today signifies justice and the liberation of oppressed people,” Daou said. “It also means stopping the implication of religion in political choices and ending linking religion to violence and extremism.”

While it is important to discover what is common among religions, Daou noted, even more important is “to discover the differences between religions and to educate people - especially the youth - to respect those differences, as an expression of our belief in freedom of conscience and our refusal of all forms of coercion and takfirism (considering others as infidels),” he said.

Daou said the “problematic reality” in the Middle East “pushes us to go a step further in order to promote interreligious solidarity in the combat of extremism and of injustice.”

Recent Adyan initiatives include offering interfaith mediation dialogue and peace education to vulnerable Syrian citizens, both in Lebanon and Syria. In Iraq, working with journalists and civil society activists, Adyan focuses on spreading the values of inclusive citizenship and interreligious solidarity, particularly to heal the society from the traumas of Islamic State.

Daou said that Adyan will continue on its path “for the adoption of pluralism as a social and political value in Arab countries.”

“It will also work for the promotion of resilience to all forms of extremism and for the development of social cohesion, spiritual solidarity, intercivilizational encounter and world stability,” he added.

By 2016, a decade after its foundation, Adyan had more than 3,000 members with some 35,000 direct beneficiaries in 29 countries.

The Niwano Peace Prize ceremony will take place in Tokyo May 9.

Genuine Interfaith Dialogue

Genuine Interfaith Dialogue | FoundationforPluralism.blogspot.com

In a Genuine interfaith dialogue, we respect the otherness of others and never claim our faith to be superior to the other as it amounts to arrogance. Religion is about humility that builds bridges between peoples and the communities, and not about arrogance which kills relationships and breeds conflicts.

One of the key things about genuine interfaith dialogue is to develop the ability to see the beauty in other faiths, without having the anxiety to flaunt yours as the best. If we were selling religion like used cars, we have to put others down to make ours look better.

But religion is not a business, it is a system to help an individual achieve his or her own peace within, and peace with what surrounds; life and matter.

When my daughter was going to the Baptist Church, I mentioned to her that if the Pastor decides to denigrate other faiths in his sermons, don't be gullible to buy it. She came back with a powerful response, "Dad, if the Pastor tells all religions are equal or beautiful, why would people go to his congregation?" He has to tell the people that others are not worthy.

Is religion a business? Is one's income tied to the number of congregants? Ultimately what difference does it make if you believe in God the Christian way, Muslim, Hindu or any other way?  God loves his creation, all of his creation, and if he does not, then why do we need a God like that?

Over the years, I have heard different versions of the following sentences uttered by Imams, Rabbis, Pastors, Pundits and clergy from other faiths. "No other faith offers this connection with God" - "Only _______ offers salvation" - "Our faith is based on science", " _____ is a very logical faith", "No other faith gives a purpose in life like our _______ faith, "  Every time I hear that, I cringe. Why are they duping their congregants?   I make quick notes and invariably ask the clergy, if they were aware that other faiths also offer the same ideals, here they are....  they walk away, or double down on it. 

A few have said to me, look, if people want to believe in my claims, let them. I reminded them that it borders on dishonesty,  as a religious person, doesn't he owe the truth to his congregants?  

I hope a day will come when more of us can speak about other religions honestly and sincerely.  That is, for a Jew to speak about Christianity as a Christian would speak and vice-versa, a Hindu to speak about Islam as a Muslim would speak and vice versa, and for a Sunni Muslim to speak about Shia, as a Shia would speak about his tradition.  We should have the integrity to articulate other people’s faith honestly, or have the common sense to believe that others faiths must be equally good for them to follow.    

You are who you are, and I am who I am. 

I can never be like you, nor can you ever be like me,

Your faith is as dear to you, as my faith is dear to me.
I like my faith as you like yours, but...

 I will never claim my faith is superior, as it generates conflict, and religion is not about conflict, it is about removal of apprehension and bringing peace.

As I study the beauty of all faiths, I pick things here and there to share.  Here is a chapter from Quran,  called Kafirun,  which has the similar language as the above four lines, and I am hoping to hear from my fellow religionists to share something like this from their tradition. No religion is superior to the other, period! Here it is - http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/07/sura-kafirun-un-believers.html

You will find a handful of religious people, who are honest enough to acknowledge the beauty of other faiths, without worrying that their faiths will become less valuable, or others may criticize you.
Again, I am blessed to have written up about every faith tradition; you can Google search the following:

1. Atheist Mike Ghouse
2. Bahai Mike Ghouse
3. Buddhist Mike Ghouse
4. Christian Mike Ghouse
5. Hindu Mike Ghouse
6. Jain Mike Ghouse
7. Jewish Mike Ghouse
8. Native American Mike Ghouse
9. Pagan Mike Ghouse
10. Sikh Mike Ghouse
11. Wicca Mike Ghouse
12. Zoroastrian Mike Ghouse

You can also Google Search

1. Name of (most major) a Festival Mike Ghouse

God has blessed me with the ability to stand up for every one, and I have to complete compiling the list, meanwhile, you can check these out.

1. Standing up for Atheists - http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/04/speaking-up-for-atheists.html
2. Standing up for Christians - http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/01/standing-with-christians.html
3. Standing up for Hindus - http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/04/standing-with-hindus.html
4. Standing up for Jews - http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/02/standing-up-with-jews.html
5. Standing up for Sikhs - http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/08/standing-up-for-sikhs.html
6. Standing up GLBT - http://standingupforothers.blogspot.com/2012/05/standing-up-for-gays-and-lesbians.html
7. Standing up for Immigrants - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrjU0KULv-Y
8. Standing up for others - to be completed. 

Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam, politics, terrorism, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine and foreign policy. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net for his writings at TheGhousediary.com and several blogs listed there in. 

Muslims welcome Pope Francis

Dallas, Texas, March 13, 2013 – The World Muslim Congress, a think tank, and the Foundation for Pluralism congratulate the new Pope, Pope Francis.

“I hope he heralds a new beginning for building a better world. In behalf of the people of faith or no faith, and my faith Islam, I welcome the Pope and make ourselves available to jump at his call for creating a peace in the world, where no human has to live in fear of the others, let the world be the new kingdom of heaven where we all feel safe and secure with each other. Amen”

There are a few deeply rooted conflicts among the Muslim-Christian, and Jewish-Christian communities that are the root cause of much of the conflict in the world, they have been simmering within the hearts and minds of the Christians, Muslims and Jews, and flare up now and then in difficult expressions.

The world needs a powerful personality to urge Muslims and Christians to accept the otherness of the other without the temptation to correct the other. It needs a strong personality that can absolve Jews from the myths ascribed to them. It needs a pope who is a blessed peacemaker and extends his embrace to the Pagans, Hindus and all others who do not worship or worship God in their own way. We are all children of God and honoring each other is honoring the creator.

He has got to initiate a dialogue on same sex marriage, women priesthood, birth control, intrafaith, and interfaith relations.


The pope is singularly the most important person on the world stage besides the President of the United States who can affect positive or negative outcomes. He can aggravate the conflicts or mitigate them and earn the blessings of Jesus – Blessed are the peacemakers.

We pray that Pope Francis ushers us into a new era of dialogue and respect for each other, Amen.

Mike Ghouse
World Muslim Congress
Foundation for Pluralism

2665 Villa Creek Dr, Suite 206
Dallas, TX 75234
(214) 325-1916 – text or phone
SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam,Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building aCohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day atwww.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.

interfaith, intra-faith, pluralism, religion & spirituality

ABSTRACT: Interfaithing is NOT about uniting religions, it is about hearing each other, and learning to remove myths and falsehoods about other faiths and live without fear of the other. Much of the fear is imaginary - like a child being afraid of the boogey man that ain't there. Let the goodness in you find the goodness in others.

Link: http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2010/05/interfaith-intra-faith-pluralism.html

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Interfaith conversation is NOT about uniting religions, it is about hearing each other to remove myths and falsehoods about other faiths and learn to live without fear of the other.

It is in our interest to live freely; it amazes me how a few of us keep living in fears every moment of our lives, and much of the fear is imaginary - like a child being afraid of the boogey man that ain't there.

I draw the following from the book presented at the May partnership conference of World's religions in Chicago.

"The Parliament of World's religions is making a world of difference;

- The council seeks to promote interreligious harmony, rather than unity
- The council fosters convergence, rather than consensus
- The council's work is based on facilitation, rather than formal organizational structures.

Religious an spiritual communities can make a world of difference as they express their identity in relationship to other groups, while acting in service to the common and global good."

To be free from fears and phobias, we must resist the temptations to denigrate the other, instead we need to dig in beyond the dished out negative versions of the other. Finding the truth is one’s own responsibility and it sets one free from the misery of ill-will.

INTERFAITH: It is learning about different faiths and seeking to find the truth about other faiths. In the last decade, the inclusiveness has stepped up from Monotheistic faiths (belief in a singular version of the creator) to Polytheistic (Many representations of the creator) to earth based traditions, and now the inclusiveness includes every one whether you believe or not believe things about the creation.

INTRAFAITH: That is the dialogue within different denominations of the same faith. For example Christianity includes Catholics, protestants, presbyterians, Methodist, Baptists, Evangelists and a whole range of followers who focus on Jesus as a saviour. Among Islam there are Ahmadiyya, Bohra, Isamili, Shia, Sunni, Wahhabi and other traditions. Then there are emerging new traditions that focus on the essence of what each faith does in creating a beautiful society.

PLURALISM: Is about developing the attitudes of respecting the otherness of other, one does not have to subscribe to any (or no) version of God to be a Pluralist, but it implies respecting everywhich way one acknowledges the creator and lives his or her life in harmony with others with all the uniqueness. To lead a good moral life one does not have to believe in God, morality is fundmental to living in peace with others. One does not have to believe in God to live a normal life and life of harmony with others. Attitude of co-existence is a necessiity.

RELIGION: You may want to consider the possibility of the following definition; the purpose of religion is to bring peace and balance to an individual and balance with what surrounds him/her; life and environment. By the way, every religion, spiritual, earth based or humanistic tradition is beautiful, it does bring peace to the follower. As they say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, I would say, faith is in the heart of the believer.

SPIRITUALITY: It is what one becomes when he or she considers the whole world as one family, one is in tune with the nature and everything that nature is made of. Distinctions of race, faith, appearance don't matter, what matters is living and working together in harmony with our differences. When you truly become spiritual, to borrow the Hindu term, you become Brahma, and everything belongs to you and you belong to every one - when you achieve that, you are free from all the elements of insecurities.

ARROGANCE: Arrogance is the root cause of all problems in the world, the arrogance that my nation, my religion, my culture is superior to the point of believing that others is inferior. One cannot be religious and spiritual if one is loaded with ill-will, malice, hate etc.

Think about this formula; Arrogance and spirituality (religiosity) are inversly proportional to each other. That is higher the arrogance lower the spirituality and vice versa.

If we can learn to respect the otherness of other and accept the genetic uniqueness of each one of us, then cionflicts fade and solutions emerge.


Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer, optimist and an activist of Pluralism, Justice, Islam, India and Civil Societies. He is a conflict mitigater and a goodwill nurturer offering pluralistic solutions to issues of the day. His work is reflected at 3 websites & 22 Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

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