Introduction

“I am like the H2O in a lake. Some drink it at one place and call it “water”, others at another place and call it “jal”, and some others at a third place and call it “pani”. The Christians call it “water”, the Hindus “jal”, and the Muslims” pani”. But it is one and the same thing. I am not tied to the doctrines of any church, synagogue, temple or mosque, yet I am the reason of their birth.” ? Abhijit Naskar, Autobiography of God: Biopsy of A Cognitive Reality It is important to build and promote the new concept of religious harmony so as to meet the challenges posed by religious diversity in a globalized world. On the basis of recognizing religious diversity and differences, all religions should enhance mutual understanding and empathy through dialogue, shoulder the common responsibility of upholding peace and justice through cooperation, and foster intra- and inter-religious harmony and harmony between the religious community and the larger society. It is imperative to promote the principle of “harmony without uniformity” and “Unity in Diversity” and learn to respect each other and jointly shoulder social responsibilities. The use of religion for ill purposes should be opposed and religious extremism should be guarded against. The conflicts rooted in social and economic injustices are not the only manifestation of disharmony in the world today. Through the centuries, groups, communities or nations have been caught in the web of conflicts, often waging wars, on the basis of ethnic, racial, religious and cultural differences frequently perceived as threats to particular social existence. When addressing inter-religious issues, we should respect and accommodate each other, enhance empathy through dialogue and buildtrust through cooperation. In handling relations between religious groups and governments, we need to be committed to the freedom of religious belief and the separation of church and state. We need to ensure that religious groups and governments fulfill their respective obligations and promote virtuous interactions between them. The religious communities should adapt to social progress and development by making self-readjustments, obey secular laws, respect public customs and contribute to social development by putting into full play their unique advantages. To promote religious harmony, we need to advocate the idea of “harmony without uniformity” and “Unity in Diversity”. We must learn to respect each other. We should shoulder social responsibilities as togetherwe need to oppose any use of religion for ill purposes and we need to guard against religious extremism. HIRC pointed out that believers of all religions are heralds of a two-fold message:

1. Only God is worthy of adoration. Therefore, all the idols made by men (wealth, power, appearance, hedonism) constitute a danger for the dignity of the human person, God’s creature.
2. In God’s sight, all men and women belong to the same race, to the same family. They are all called to freedom and to encounter Him after death.

 Vision

Religions for Peace and Harmony is not only a motto or a slogan for people of good will on this earth against any conflict, hatred and violence, but it is a call to hasten such peace and harmony through action in our respective situations. We The people of diverse cultural origins and different religious persuasions need to, and can establish lasting bonds of peaceful relations through sincere inter-religious dialogue. Interreligious dialogue will provide new elements of unity and harmony among peoples for a new era of peace in the world. Peace begets peace. A peaceful person brings peace in the society through words, actions and exemplary life. Let us be peace-makers. 

Mission 

To encourage inter-religious dialogue and to draw on the spiritual and moral heritage of religions for a number of values likely to contribute to harmony, to encounters between cultures and to the consolidation of the common good. Indorsingthe promotion of racial harmony along with the mental and spiritual welfare and improvement of the community. By religious harmony, we mean the harmonious and common development within and between individual religions as well as between the religious community and the larger society which is realized through the dialogue-generated enhancement of mutual understanding and empathy and the sharing of the common responsibilities of peace and justice on the precondition of recognizing religious diversity and differences. HIRS believes that Within a religion, it is important to approach issues of faith and doctrine with tolerance, and enhance coordination and cooperation between different denominations.

Motto

Aims and Objectives

• To assure respect for the dignity of the human person and his fundamental rights develop a sense of brotherhood and mutual assistance
• To draw inspiration from the “know-how” of communities of believers who, at least once a week, gather together millions of widely differing people in the context of their worship in authentic spiritual communion
• To help the men and women of today to avoid being enslaved by fashion, consumerism and profit alone
• To promote the idea to have a clear-cut spiritual identity in regard to avoid misunderstanding amongst the religions and various faiths
• To share the content of other religions positively
• To know in whom and in what one believes (our reticence in confronting other believers for the simple reason that we do not have very clear ideas about our own religion)
• To decrease the difficulties encountered in practicing their faith by believers belonging to minority groups in countries where a majority religion enjoys a privileged status because of history or law
• To consider the other not as a rival, but as a seeker of God
• To agree to speak of what separates us and of the values that unite us.

Plan of Operation

The following major functions shall be empowered by HIRC:

• Organizing inter-faith harmony conferences and seminars to build up mutual cooperation and understandings
• Publishing literature to enhance tolerance and faith respect of other religions
• Arranging peace walks on various religious celebrations of different faiths
• Providing the leadership of religious communities with the skills, tools, and capabilities they need to work together with other groups towards common goals;
• Providing the leadership of religious communities with the skills, tools, and capabilities required to improve dialogue within their community in order to reduce marginalization, factionalism, and radicalization;
• Providing leaders of thought and media with increased ability to address extremist and intolerant views and become forces to combat them;
• Giving all parties a clearer understanding of the causes and potential areas of intolerance;
• Identifying and testing approaches and techniques that help the different faith communities to work towards solving common problems.