“If man could eliminate suffering by making offerings, paying homage and praying, there would be no suffering left in the world because anyone can pay homage and pray. But since people continue to suffer despite the various acts of obeisance, homage and rites, it is clearly not the way to liberation.”
Buddhadasa Bikkhu (1906-93), the most influential Thai monk of recent times ‘Handbook for Humankind’

As the above quotation clearly indicates, prayer and hope is quite simply not enough, in order to fulfill our desire for a better world without poverty and conflict. We need to take pro-active steps. The concept of peace with love and respect for our fellow human beings can be found in all religions. Here are just a few examples,

"Do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain."
(From the Mahabharata 5.1517) Hinduism

“In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”
(Matthew 7:12 - NRSV) Christianity

“No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.”
(Sunnab) Islam

"Hurt not others with that which pains yourself."
(From the Udanavarga 5.18) Buddhism

“What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow human beings. That is the law; all the rest is commentary”
(Talmud, Shabbat) Judaism

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves”
(Chief Seattle) Native Spiritual Traditions

It is clear that we do not need to find a new religion as such but what we need to do is to strengthen collaboration through dialogue amongst the many religious groupings that already exist and that already have one common goal: peace.

This forum will provide a timely and much needed platform for us to consider what has been done, is being done, and could be done in the future, to attain tangible outcomes in our quest for the development of peaceful societies. It will help consolidate and strengthen the efforts of religious communities and raise awareness amongst the general public of the critical role they play in promoting change and building bridges for peace. Facing the fact that we are all dependent on each other, this forum will help reinforce the idea that we have much more uniting us than dividing us. The idea of ‘unity in diversity’ is nothing new but sadly, in reality, today’s world does not reflect this concept.