The Potential of
Inter-Religious Peace
Leading to Peace
Worldwide
Methodology and
Research:
History, with special reference to possible power and transformation
of religious narratives, the notion of “enlightenment”, and the area
of
Abstract:
The world has
become one. There is no way to turn back history.
The major world
religions on our planet coexist and claim at least equal rights. This leads to
competition over doctrinal matters but also to legal conflicts over
ownership-rights as is the case with
Considering the
very strong, but widely unconscious motivating force of religious narratives
and identification, it is understandable why Jews wanted to return to their
biblical homeland and – since Muslims believe Judaism finally will have to yield
to Islam – why they cannot allow Jews to ever claim Haram
Ash-Sharif for themselves.
This seemingly
remote motive may be the deepest source of the devastating power of the
Without hidden
motives, empathy can arise; all parties become able to view the matter in an
attitude of mutual appreciation.
Their common
ground, Abraham, can become the basis for a common future, in spite of the
different historical pathways the three Abrahamic
religions have taken – by the will of God.
With this
perspective, the understanding of the narratives around Mount Moriah may undergo substantial transformation, and, as a
result, the people of the three religions may wish to express their basic
spiritual unity architecturally, in form of a common sanctuary, that once and
for all times will document their empathic realization, that the One Creator of
all wanted to be worshipped in different manners according to the different
traditions in the different parts of the world.
With this empathic
realization, the people who have turned away from religion because they did not
want to succumb to the dangers of superstition can be moved to appreciate the
divine mercy and benevolence which radiate from rightly understood religion. So
they too can support that one sanctuary – and the three religions in turn
become able to submit to the principles of enlightenment in a secular and
democratic state under the rule of human rights.