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Harmony Over Supremacy: The Challenge of Our Time

August 7, 2019

The Parliament of the World’s Religions condemns the domestic terrorist attacks carried out against the El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio communities earlier this week and stands with the victims and families grappling with the tragedy.
These and the 200+ plus mass shootings that have taken place so far this year in the United States are a devastating reminder that white supremacy and the radicalization of members of our communities are a grave reality.
The Issue of Supremacy
Religion is often identified as a leading cause of conflict and violence around the world. Looking deeper, this statement is complex. Conflict that is branded as “religious” can, and usually does, have underlying political, economic, or social motivations that go much deeper than religious differences.  But the reality of conflict, be it economic, political, or ideological, is that fundamentally it is a fight for the supremacy of one group over another.
Throughout history, and even today we see nations, traditions, and people all over the world choose to fight in the name of their own supremacy rather than labor on the path toward harmony.
The refusal to grant refugee status to our neighbors fleeing violence and persecution around the world are statements made by nations that xenophobia and ethnocentrism are more powerful than the human right to a life free from the threat of violence.
The persecution of members of one faith tradition by another is a tragic acknowledgment of the perversion of unique faith and spiritual traditions in the name of ideological supremacy.
The opposition to common-sense climate protection regulations by nations and corporations around the world are a recognition that the economic superiority of a few corporations and individuals is more valuable than the survival of our planet and our humanity.
Our global community is constantly faced with conflicts motivated by notions of one group of people being superior to another. The challenge of our time is to proactively create solutions that place us on the path of harmony, cooperation, and understanding.
Fostering Harmony
At the heart of the global interfaith movement lies the belief that all human beings are equal in dignity which challenges any notion of supremacy. The Parliament condemns the concept that one group is superior to another. We condemn any act of hate or supremacy committed against individuals or communities.
We are committed to the principles of our foundational document, Towards a Global Ethic and invite others to commit to:
1. A culture of non-violence and respect for life.
2. A culture of solidarity and a just economic order.
3. A culture of tolerance and a life of truthfulness.
4. A culture of equal rights and partnership between men and women.
5. A culture of sustainability and care for the earth.
Now more than ever we call upon our interfaith colleagues and all people of faith and conscience around the world to challenge supremacy in our daily lives, communities, and nations by working toward justice, peace, and harmony.

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