Consciousness of oneness of humankind a prerequisite to lasting progress, says BIC

Consciousness of oneness of humankind a prerequisite to lasting progress, says BIC

More than 700 people attended the Global Conference on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi, UAE from 3-4 February.
More than 700 people attended the Global Conference on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi, UAE from 3-4 February.
New York—8 February 2019

Building new patterns of collective life that more fully reflect the highest aspects of human nature, such as generosity, compassion, honesty, and nobility calls for the talents and participation of all segments of humanity, the Baha’i International Community (BIC) has said at a global conference of religious leaders, scholars and cultural figures.

More than 700 people attended the Global Conference on Fraternity in Abu Dhabi, UAE  from 3-4 February, including Pope Francis and Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.

The interreligious conference, organized by the Muslim Council for Elders, was created to provide a global stage for multiple faiths to discuss key issues related to peaceful coexistence, tolerance and human values.

The Principal Representative of the Baha’i international Community to the United Nations, Bani Dugal, participated in a panel discussion alongside Christian and Muslim religious leaders and thinkers entitled “Joint Responsibilities to Achieving Human Fraternity”.

“A better world does not come about simply because we want it, nor even because we call and advocate for it,” said Ms. Dugal .

“New and more mature patterns of relationship will emerge only to the degree that we proactively arise and take steps to build them. A great moral responsibility thus falls on each one of us. Every individual must evaluate what his or her own response should be to the pressing needs of the current historical moment.

“Yet our responsibilities toward the advancement of civilization are also joint responsibilities, and discharging them is a task to be shouldered not just by individuals, but by communities, societies, and ultimately, by the entire human race, in its infinite diversity and richness.”

“Working towards the betterment of the world is not a job of one group alone,” added Ms. Dugal.

“Rather, every nation, group, and individual will, to a greater or lesser degree, contribute to the emergence of the world civilization towards which humanity is irresistibly moving.

“If consciousness of the oneness of humankind is indeed a prerequisite for human progress today, then every form of prejudice and discrimination must be abolished, whether on the basis of gender, race, or any other characteristic.

“Age-old divisions must be healed and long-standing injustices rectified. Unity of purpose and a vibrant sense of shared endeavor must be fostered among ever larger groups of people.

“Human fraternity, in its countless forms and embodiments, is inseparable from these objectives.”

The conference culminated in an historic meeting between Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb and Pope Francis—the first pontiff to visit the Arabian peninsula—and culminated in the signing of the Abu Dhabi declaration which called for “all concerned to stop using religion to incite hatred, violence, extremism and blind fanaticism.”

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Read the full remarks of of the Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community here.

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