While India is celebrating an upward trajectory of economic growth combined with ecstatic euphoria through the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya it would be foolish to remain oblivious to the upheavals of a tottering civilization. We are just 90 seconds from a global catastrophe as per the latest announcement of the Security Board of Bulletin of Atomic Scientists for the second consecutive year.

Let me, therefore, focus on the theme of United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, 1-7 February which is “Uniting for peace,” and the positive role that religious communities can play to save our planet. In this age of interdependence and interconnectedness at every level of human existence followers of religions or dharma or mazhab, whatever term is used, have to accept that no spiritual system or cultural milieu can thrive in isolation or compartments. Believers and even non-believers must transcend petty differences and conflicting doctrines to create a people’s movement of interfaith harmony. This is, indeed, an important goal of all interfaith conferences and seminars. The legacy of the interfaith movement may be traced to the 1893 Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Chicago. Leaders of religions and the laity have shown that harmonious relationships can be forged to live side by side and peacefully for tackling other major crises such poverty alleviation, gender imbalances, climate emergencies, conflicts and wars fueled by a range of causes by building capacity through educational institutions and selfless services for the welfare of all.

The spiritual luminaries described variously as the avatara, the tathagatha, the tirthankara, the prophet or messenger, and ‘manifestation of God’, have come periodically to guide the people and provide for the progress of an ever-advancing civilization. From an unprejudiced point of view their message may be taken as a chapter of a Divine Book; each time a Message was given it gave rise to a new path for humankind’s growth and spiritual development. We should also remember that differences among peoples due to culture or whatever other reasons should not breed hostility but should lead to deepening and enriching our thoughts and enable us to live in mutual harmony and peace. Just as unity is a fundamental truth diversity is also intrinsic in creation. Differences test our capacity to tolerate.

While recognizing differences we should understand the commonalities and it is this tension between differences and commonalities which enrich our lives. There are practical steps and universal principles that all can follow to remove the causes for hatred, misunderstandings and conflicts. We need to take two steps – first, forging the unity of all the world’s leaders and officials in leading us to peace, stopping wars, setting national boundaries, ending civil, religious, or ideological differences, and facilitating fairness and justice. They can only do that by signing an inviolable Pact. In this context, there are a host of Declarations and practical educational curricula that have been endorsed repeatedly by leaders or representatives of all faiths and belief systems, the most recent one was at the Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Chicago in August 2023.

Second, the world’s peoples must also set aside prejudices and differences, and begin to cooperate, support each other and their governments, and be well-wishers of humankind – the ancient and renewed Golden Rule commemorated every year on 5 April was put into worldwide motion and action at the Centenary of the Parliament of the World’s Religions held in September 1993. Words will not save us – only action can. Viewed from the lens of positivity, without doubt, history shows that we are making progress towards these cooperative ends and new beginnings. This is not to suggest that everything is hunky-dory because one must realise that there is a great deal of lawlessness, rampant corruption, and widespread unbelief that together are eating away at the vitals of present-day society. It is necessary to assert that all of humanity is responsible for reversing these negative tendencies.

Those in authority and the decision-makers have the chief responsibility. They must gather their peers in a single great assemblage empowered to stop religiously motivated violence and bring a lasting peace to all. The interfaith movement has abundantly reiterated that the sacred scriptures belong to all. In the past due to lack of means of communication and limited education of the vast majority of humanity it was confined to particular sections of the religious community but today access to knowledge by all peoples has made it possible to read any Scripture in one’s mother-tongue. Through independent search after truth and the study of the holy Books of different religions one can easily dispel blind faith and nip distortions in the bud. We can help each other to build bridges of understanding among peoples, regardless of their spiritual background.

Not only this, such a dispassionate study strengthens the belief in the common set of core values found in the teachings of every extant religion, and these form the basis of a global ethic, the Golden Rule – a powerful guideline for human behaviour that instils courage to reject prejudices of every kind. Indeed, “the rising fires of religious prejudice call for decisive action against fanaticism and intolerance.

The crisis demands of religious leadership for a break with the past as decisive as that which opened the way for society to address equally corrosive prejudices of caste, race, gender and nation.” Ruling elites, be they religious or secular, can make no more serious error than to imagine that the power they have managed to arrogate to themselves provides an enduring bulwark against the relentless tides of historical change. May World Interfaith Harmony Week this year become a turning point in the history of civilization and unite the world for peace.

(The writer is a social worker, independent researcher and an active promoter of interfaith harmony. Views expressed are personal.)