CONCEPTS AND OBJECTIVES
To fulfill this need we propose the creation
of a United Nations Spiritual Forum for World Peace under
the General Assembly. The spiritual forum would be a permanent
space for the leaders and representatives of all major and
minor religions and spiritual movements for dialogue and
concertation, as well as a bridge with the political forum.
The spiritual forum concept assumes both diversity and commonalities
among religions and spiritual movements. The forum will
not entail the creation of a new multi religious philosophical
doctrine or the ironing out of cultural religious diversity,
but would be based on the holders of each religious tradition
and identity, finding out in the dialogue common values,
views and goals for concerted action in the search for inner
and world peace, with full respect for the right of every
group to cultivate, practise and teach its own doctrine.
In this spirit, the spiritual forum is
expected to provide the space and channels for facilitating
a better knowledge and understanding of the beliefs, ethical
codes, organisation and practices of each other, a basic
condition for mutual respect; to interchange ideas and work
out common views from a spiritual perspective on the major
problems and challenges faced by mankind, such as poverty
eradication, population growth and protection of the environment;
and identify specific areas for concerted action in the
promotion of peace.
The spiritual forum will also offer an
official channel to the spiritual leaders to speak with
one single voice to the political leaders with regard to
world peace and to relate to the specialised agencies and
funding agencies of the UN system which are responsible
for promoting social, economic and environmental development.
In order to fulfill its mission, the spiritual forum at
international level should be complemented by spiritual
forums created at the national and local levels which will
promote inter-religious dialogue and concerted action for
inner and social peace in the communities. Without the active
involvement of local communities the spiritual forum would
remain only as one more superstructure.
