Remember the Victims. Reject Religious Hatred. Build Peace.
Religion and belief can be deeply personal sources of identity, meaning and community. Yet, the world witnesses violence because of their religion or beliefs. Places of worship and cultural sites have been targeted. “The International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief”, observed every year on August 22, is a UN observance. Victims can experience many forms of harm. Like hate speech, online harassment, etc. Religion has sometimes travelled alongside exploration, trade, and empire. History has recorded several incidents where violence is not driven by religious beliefs, like Nazi persecution and the Holocaust. The danger begins when difference becomes intolerance, intolerance becomes hatred, and hatred becomes violence. Indian philosophical traditions have long recognised that differences in spiritual understanding need not become reasons for hatred. Difference in belief is natural. Disagreement, even strong disagreement, is natural. But turning disagreement into hatred—and hatred into violence—is a choice.
Faith And Belief Should Never Attract Violence.
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Religion and belief can be deeply personal sources of identity, meaning and community. Yet, the world witnesses violence because of their religion or beliefs. Places of worship and cultural sites have been targeted. “The International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief”, observed every year on August 22, is a UN observance. It is dedicated to remembering those victims and reaffirming the right of every person to live and worship—or not worship—without fear. Victims can experience many forms of harm. Like hate speech, online harassment, etc. Such violence can affect entire communities even when only a few individuals are directly attacked.
Freedom of religion or belief is recognised as a fundamental human right. Blaming an entire community for the actions of individuals can itself create discrimination, hostility and further violence. Importantly, protecting freedom of religion also means protecting the freedom of people not to follow a religion or to hold different beliefs.
Religion Should Never Be Used to Justify Violence.
Conflicts usually have multiple, overlapping causes, and religion may be central in some cases, secondary in others, or largely irrelevant. When intolerance turns into discrimination, persecution or violence, it can deepen conflicts and create cycles of hatred that affect entire communities.
Throughout history, religion has sometimes travelled alongside exploration, trade and empire. Faith, commerce, political power, strategic interests and human curiosity have often travelled together. History has recorded several incidents where violence is not necessarily driven by religious beliefs. Nazi persecution and the Holocaust, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, and the Oklahoma City bombing reflect, to name a few.
Intolerance Is Itself a Form Of Violence And An Obstacle To The Growth Of A True Democratic Spirit.
Mahatma Gandhi
Belief becomes dangerous when intolerance turns into dehumanisation—when people begin to believe that those who worship differently, interpret faith differently, or do not believe at all have fewer rights to safety, dignity and freedom. The danger begins when difference becomes intolerance, intolerance becomes hatred, and hatred becomes violence.
Tolerance is often described as putting up with differences. But peaceful societies require something deeper: respect and understanding. A society becomes stronger not when everyone believes the same thing, but when people can believe differently and still live together in peace.
Ekam sat viprā bahudhā vadanti
(Truth is one, the wise speak of it in many ways)
Rig Veda
Indian philosophical traditions have long recognised that differences in spiritual understanding need not lead to hatred. The Rig Veda’s ‘Ekam sat viprā bahudhā vadanti’ acknowledges that truth may be expressed in different ways. The Bhagavad Gita praises the person who hates no being and is compassionate toward all.
Difference In Belief Is Natural. Disagreement Is Natural. Even Strong Disagreement Is Natural. But Turning Disagreement into Hatred—And Hatred Into Violence—Is A Choice.
Remember victims, combat religious hatred and discrimination, protect freedom of religion or belief, and build societies where all faiths can live and worship in peace.
Toon: Anusha
Log: M Sai Baba
ToonLogs
