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"We seek to promote respect for all, all faiths, all convictions."
- Coexister Interfaith Youth Movement, France
Parliament Board Invites All Faith Communities to Move Against Violence and Hate
The Parliament of the World’s Religions vehemently condemns revengeful attacks killing 12 journalists and police officers and four Jews in France, and estimations of up to 2000 women and children in Nigeria. Now this cycle of revenge has engulfed the French Muslims with more than 20 attacks on Islamic buildings. We send our condolences to the families of the victims and to all of France and Nigeria as they grieve.
The Parliament believes that use of religion or any other socio-political ideology to "justify" violence is simply not acceptable.
The Parliament urges the global community to remember that such acts violate the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and asks that faith communities stand together to break this cycle of revenge by speaking out and organizing programs which enhance positive human relationship of compassion and forgiveness.
The Parliament plans to organize special programing in the forthcoming 2015 Parliament in October 15-19th on the cycle of war, violence, and hate. We invite all faith communities to participate in a joint declaration with a clear resolve to do our utmost to develop a movement against war, violence and hate.
Our thoughts and prayers will remain with the victims and their families.
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Blasphemy and Freedom
By Dr. Martin E. Marty
The Charlie Hebdo incident: we cannot not sight it and refrain from all comment. It would be redundant to revisit here the obvious aspects of the incident. Thus, obviously, the murderers at the office of the French satirical magazine were simply evil. Obviously, the killers were motivated by their obsession with their version of Islam to do the evil act. Read more >
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"Je Suis Musulman, Je Suis Juif"
The rally of 3 plus million demonstrators across France including 40 world leaders on Sunday is the voice of interfaith solidarity boldly calling the world to reclaim the heart of our humanity. Devastating events unsettle everything we hold dear. Extremist acts shake up the foundations of society and force us to think about very difficult questions. This is where we are. Amidst the controversy, however, we must be careful to not stereotype and condemn an entire race or religion because of the acts of a few outliers. Broadcasting messages of love and understanding, transforming strangers into neighbors, and promoting positive human relationships is the only way forward in our efforts for global healing. May the interfaith movement now arise stronger, fuller, and more energized to answer this call.
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"At the Grand Mosque of Paris there was an unprecedented show of interfaith solidarity as Buddhist, Jewish and Christian leaders joined Muslims in the minute's silence for the dead."
- BBC News, Europe, January 9 2015
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The French Interfaith Youth Movement Stands Up For All
After the attack to the Paris office of the French Magazine Charlie Hebdo, Coexist interfaith youth movement, wishes to express its shock, fear and sadness at such an act of barbarism. We are deeply affected by what has happened. This odious act affects not only journalists, police officers, their families and friends to whom we offer our condolences. It affects our national community. Read more >
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Avenging the Prophet Who Banned Revenges
“We have avenged the Prophet Mohammad,†the gunmen shouted after killing 12 at the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, yesterday. The publication is known for lampooning the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Well. The Prophet banned revenge as he built his peace sanctuary in seventh-century Madinah, establishing instead the rule of law. Read more >
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Read more on media narratives on religion and violence:
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Sharpening Contradictions: Why al-Qaeda Attacked Satirists in Paris
The horrific murder of the editor, cartoonists and other staff of the irreverent satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, along with two policemen, by terrorists in Paris was in my view a strategic strike, aiming at polarizing the French and European public.
Read more >
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One Tweet Perfectly Sums Up the Big Problem With How We Talk About Terrorism
If you asked most people, terrorism conjures one image: brown people with beards and bombs. Nothing has made that profoundly racist misunderstanding clearer than the news coverage of two violent attacks that happened within roughly 24 hours. Read more >
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