Does Religion’s Claim to Truth Lead to Violence?
Friday, 29.01.2010, 19.00 – 21.30 h
Religions motivate people to relate to each other, to create understanding and to foster peace. But religions can be abused for political ideologies. Formulated as a universal right to truth, religion can turn into a claim to power, which may lead to violence. Recognizing this, the Ecumenical Council of Churches proclaimed the Decade for Overcoming Violence, which will end in 2010.- Does religion have a tendency to impose its claim to truth through violence? Under what conditions?
- How is communal life possible in a society with multiple claims to truth?
- Do political views promote a claim to truth, especially when they legitimatize themselves religiously?
Thomas Wipf, President of the Council, Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Switzerland
Marcia Pally, Professor of Multilingual Multicultural Studies at New York University, USA
Edna Brocke, Head of the Old Synagogue Memorial in Essen, Germany
Muhammad Ashafa, Imam, Co-Coordinator, Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, Nigeria
Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary-General, Muslim Council of Britain, United Kingdom
Moderation:
Urs Leuthard, Swiss Television
