Interreligious peace ethics at the turn of an era
In a country of 84 million people with a growing religious diversity (23.2% of the population has a migration background), the relevance of interreligious ethics and training for interreligious diplomacy and ethical dialogue can hardly be underestimated.
Since the 2019 World Assembly of Religions for Peace in Lindau, Germany, attended by 900 representatives from 17 different religions, there has been a steady and significant growth in interreligious initiatives in Germany. A recent publication (Interreligiöse Initiativen in Deutschland. Ein Wegweiser, Nomos, 2024) listed more than 70 interreligious initiatives and councils in the country. In continuation of Lindau, the Interreligiöses Netzwerk Deutschland (Interreligious Network in Germany) regularly brings together major players and experts.
The Interreligious Network in Germany held a summit in Frankfurt on 21 October 2024 to discuss the topic of Interreligious dialogue and ethics at the turn of an era ("Zeitenwende"): How interreligious cooperation is influenced by the political and social situation. The conference brought together key experts from the Congress of Interreligious Councils and interreligious initiatives like Green Faith Germany, Coexister, Stiftung Weltethos, as well as a Round Table of religious leaders and religions for peace. Globethics President Dietrich Werner was in attendance.
Many participants shared concerns about how the devastating outbreak of terrorist violence on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent massive violence in Gaza and Lebanon have negatively impacted interreligious dialogue. They also discussed how mistrust and enmity creep in, even within circles of friends, and how it is not easy to work against disinterest or withdrawal from political actors, or the negative repercussions of the strong identification of particular religious traditions with ethno-nationalistic goals and visions, such as in the case of Russian orthodoxy, which distorts the reputation of religion.
The conference highlighted the significance of ongoing efforts for interreligious peace ethics and dialogue against all odds, as there is no alternative to working together for the common good.
Rev. Dr Dietrich Werner, president of Globethics, was invited to share his reflections on interreligious peace ethics as a priority of public responsibility for religious actors in Germany. He emphasised the need to train religious leaders' ethical competencies; establish joint platforms for more intense collaboration, and plan for proper interaction between national and global working processes in interreligious peace ethics (to be understood in its widest notion as comprehensive peace ethics, including developmental ethics and environmental ethics).
Dr Werner's contribution can be read in full here.
Experiences from other parts of the world are accessible in Globethics Publications and in the Globethics digital library. The Global Ethics Forum is a platform for empowerment and enrichment.
Papers from the Frankfurt conference will be made accessible as a publication and in open-access digital format at a later date.
You might also be interested in...
Launch of the Ethical Leadership and Investment for a Sustainable Future Manual
AI Governance Ethics
Responsible Leadership
Peace panel: Can AI make the world more secure?
"AI has the potential to be a sentinel of peace" - panelists discussed the political potential of AI on Globethics' Geneva Peace Week 2024 panel.