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سلام שָׁלוֹם peace journal

Saturday, March 28, 2009

On Religion, Interfaith Understanding, and the Role of Religion in the Public Sphere

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Statement of Intent

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David Kreider
As an artist who grew up in Israel-Palestine I have in the last years since September 2001 been deeply saddened by the deterioration of our relationships across the lines of politics and religion in the Middle East and around the world. I have felt a deepening sense of urgency about the stakes involved and believe we must devote ourselves to peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and interfaith understanding if we are to survive. I would like to use this space to engage our thoughts on the issues and the injustices, and reflect on the words of poets, journalists, and leaders - who can inspire our thoughts and actions in the ways of peace. I invite you to add your words to this space as well. My wife and I grew up across the political lines in Israel and Gaza, and we share a longing for peace. My initial disillusionment with the dark side of this conflict and its interwoven inhumanities led me to the MA Program in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and to the emerging Center for Interfaith Engagement at EMU which I commend to others who share a need for hope. May we together embody the vision we wish to see for سلام שָׁלוֹם peace.
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A Prayer for Peace

O compassionate and merciful God,
for peace and justice I pray..

Help me to say what is right
in the face of the mighty,
And not to compromise my truth
when I am vulnerable.
Help me see others' perspectives,
And not to demean those
who differ with me in opinion.

If you give me wealth, O God
don't let me forget my true worth;
and if you give me power,
don't take away my compassion;
If you give me success,
give me also great humility.

Teach me, O God,
to love all people
as I love myself;
..to judge myself
as I judge other people.
Teach me that forgiveness
is the highest power,
And that revenge
is the first indication of weakness.
Don't let me turn vain if I succeed..
Nor let despair defeat me if I fail.

O God, grant me patience
when my hopes fail,
Grant me faith
when my health and strength are weak;
And if I have done wrong,
grant me the courage to apologize
and to make things right;
And if others do me wrong,
Grant me the power to forgive.

Read by Fatemeh Durabi, Summer Peacebuilding Institute, Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, 2007

"It has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to persist." Haile Selassie

"Never doubt that a few thoughtful individuals can together change the world." - Margaret Meade

Points of Light for Just Peace

  • International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Amnesty International
  • US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
  • Interfaith Peace-builders
  • When Development and Security Paradigms Clash-Why Israel's National Security Strategy is a Recipe for Disaster
  • Parents' Circle Family Forum
  • Alternative News
  • Bitter Lemons
  • Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem
  • Stop the Wall
  • Jerusalem Old City Initiative
  • Arab Education Institute - Open Windows
  • Public Committee Against Torture in Israel
  • Jewish Voice for Peace
  • Divestment from Israeli Occupation
  • Rabbis for Human Rights
  • Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel
  • Love Thy Neighbor
  • Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development
  • OneVoice Movement
  • One Million Voices
  • The Geneva Initiative
  • Lubar Institute for the Study of Abrahamic Religions
  • Center for Justice and Peacebuilding
  • Journal of Scriptural Reasoning
  • Alliance for Jewish Christian Muslim Understanding
  • Kindred Center for Children of Abraham Institute
  • Gila Svirsky, B'tselem, Women in Black
  • US Inst of Peace - Arab-Israeli Conflict
  • Wiam Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center
  • United Religions Initiative
  • 3D Security Initiative
  • Anwar Sadat's Knesset Speech
  • B'tzelem Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
  • Coalition of Women for Peace
  • Common Ground News Service
  • Shalom Center - Imams & Rabbis
  • Tikkun Articles
  • Tikkun Vision Statement

Link Partners

  • PauletteFilms
  • KreiderArt Galleries

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