"Without peaceful coexistence the world would be filled with conflicts," Din Syamsuddin said at an international conference on world peace in Munich, Germany, on Monday (Sept 12), according to press release received by ANTARA here Thursday.
The conference was organized by the Saint Egidio community (a Catholic organization) and attended by 500 figures of different faiths from many countries.
Din was a speaker at the conference themed "Bound To Live Together" along with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and Secretary General of Germany`s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Herman Grohe.
The world`s civilizations were facing serious challenges due to accumulative damages in many forms including poverty, ignorance, injustice, environmental damage and cultural problems, he said.
According to Din, the world`s religious communities should take joint measures in coping with those problems.
In plural communities, people of different beliefs must live side by side in peace, he said, adding that Islam teaches mutual understanding, mutual appreciation and mutual respect.
He said that besides non-religious factors, intolerance and exclusivism stemming from a wrong understanding of religion could trigger economic or politics; conflicts, among other things.
Thus, he said, a right understanding that underscores love and the awareness of mankind`s common destiny and responsibility was needed.
Din also pointed out that Indonesia`s state ideology of Pancasila and motto Unity in Diversity (Bhineka Tunggal Ika) are the unifying factors for the country with plurality. The ideology and motto could be models for coexistence of peace in the world, he said.
He likewise said other factors of coexistence include appreciation to humanity, universal values and awareness of being the heir to the earth which could create positive and constructive attitudes to build better world and civilization.
In Munich, Din along with 15 world religious figures had also the opportunity to meet with German President Christian Wulff.
As the president of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP) and Vice President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP), Din was also invited by the World Jewish Congress for dialogs at the Great Synagogue in Munich. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
