ACRP celebrates its 40th Anniversary – Religions for Peace Asia

Kyoto, Japan. Religions for Peace Asia, also known as the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace, has commemorated its 40^th anniversary through an interfaith gathering with the theme “How to Respond to Violent Extremism in the Name of Religion?” on 26^th October 2016 at the Kyoto International Community House.

The conference highlights the continuing advocacy of Religions for Peace to promote interfaith dialogue at various levels in countering religious extremism.

They keynote speaker challenged religionists to “admit and tolerate differences as the only way to avoid violence and conflict.”

Rev. Nichiko Niwano, the President of Risho Kosei-kai and the Co-President of ACRP said that “responding hatred to hatred does not stop it. We have to respond with compassion.” It I for this reason, he added, that the role of religious leaders is to tackle the mind in order to “shine forth the light that will lead the world as one.”

In his congratulatory remark, Ven. Xuecheng challenged ACRP to keep “mutual respect, mutual tolerance and mutual learning” as its underlying principles in addressing the contemporary issues and problems.

Rev. Yoshitaka Hatakeyama, ACRP Secretary General, considers the 40^th anniversary as an expression of the solidarity of religious leaders in Asia in promoting unity and harmony. He said that “without interfaith dialogue, no world peace can be achieved.”

Responding to the keynote speaker, Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, the Deputy Secretary General of Religions for Peace International, points to the important role young people have to play in promoting social harmony. The Religions for Peace youth network, he said, is an “effective way of preventing violent extremism among the youth.” Moreover, the religious youth leaders can actively promote mutual understanding, respect and tolerance through social media.

Dr. Din Syamsuddin, ACRP Moderator and President of Religions for Peace Indonesia, calls on the silent majority to actively engage in peace by providing counter narrative as a way of responding to the ISIS problem.

Dr. Suphatmet Yunyasit, representing Dr. Parichart Suwanbubbha, of Religions for Peace Thailand, shared their early warning system of preventing violence in Pattani, Thailand, where there is a crisis in the relationship between Buddhist and Muslim. Responding to extremism, according to her, is to acknowledge that conflict is part of reality, and to consider it as an opportunity for change.