When religion is mixed with international politics, the result, or at least the thing that is most often reported, is a conflict. Religious conflict is seen in the news everyday. The news constantly reports religious conflicts ranging from the conflict in the Middle East between Muslims and Jews to the religious intolerance in Africa to the constant tension between the United States and the Arab world to the divisions within religions including the rift between Sunnis and Shi’a. Clearly, most often when religion and international politics are in the news a major conflict is the topic. However, not all news about religion is bad news. In fact, all over the world giant strides are being made toward religious tolerance and peace. One example of this is from a group of forty-five teens in Nashville, another from the co-chairmen of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and a third from a large convention of forty-five interfaith organizations from around the world. These three examples prove that not everything that involves religion and international politics is a bad thing.
On Sunday February 15, 2009 a group of 45 Muslim and Jewish teenagers met in Brentwood, Tennessee to discuss the fighting that recently took place in Gaza between Israeli and Palestinian forces. The point of this gathering was to try to develop a better understanding between the teens of two different religions. Hopefully, both groups would come out with an appreciation for the other religion and possibly even influence the future of this conflict. Maybe they would even inspire their parents and larger Jewish and Muslim communities to approach each other with more respect, rather than just resorting to anger, shouting, and violence right away. One very interesting aspect of the discussions that took place was that no adults were allowed to participate; it was strictly to be one group of young adults talking to another. Throughout the conversations the teenagers discussed many important topics ranging from the history of Zionism to the current conflict and the reasons behind it to the future of the conflict and possible resolutions (including the two state solution). Both groups were heavily educated on the practices, traditions, and history of the other so that they might learn that their religions are not all together that different. One of the Muslim students made a very profound conclusion after learning more about the history of Judaism. He said, "We should focus on our similarities, and less on our differences”. In all the dialogue that took place was very productive and both sides took a great deal out of the meeting. One student put it simply, saying, "Everybody wants to meet halfway, but no one knows where halfway is”.
In Nigeria, the two co-chairmen of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council are calling for political action to be taken to enforce the preaching of religious tolerance. One of the co-chairs, Rt. Rev. John Onaiyekan, “has advocated sanctions for religious leaders who preach inciting messages as a way of curtailing incessant religious crisis in the country”. The other co-chair, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Muhammad Abubakar III, has also spoken up for political involvement in religious tolerance. He is advocating for “a constitutional advisory role for traditional rulers to enable them contribute meaningfully to forging peace”. The religious problems that are occurring in Nigeria are often preventable. However, many religious preachers speak negatively towards other religious groups and often incite violence against them. Dr. Onaiyekan said, “I have not heard of any serious religious institution, whether Christian or Islam, that teaches its members to be thieves or murderers”. In fact, he is calling for religious groups to disown and isolate themselves from preachers that preach such violence and negativity towards other religious groups. He argued that religious groups should view themselves less as rivals and more as teammates working towards a common goal. He said, “A social revolution backed with fervent prayers from various religious groups was needed to bring about good, honest and purposeful leadership that would promote good governance”. The Sultan stated that “necessary institutional support as canvassed by him would enable religious and traditional institutions contribute meaningfully to national development”. This is way important political measures must be taken to ensure that religious tolerance is seen as an important goal. With religious tolerance achieved, Nigeria can work better as one nation. "Nigerian leaders must be true believers in the vision they have for Nigeria. It is then and only then that we can expect other Nigerians to have faith in the commitment of our leaders to the nation's developmental goals and objectives".
A third group that is dedicated to the maintenance of peace between religious groups is the United Nations. A coalition of forty-five members was formed to advance a “United Nations Decade for Inter-Religious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding, and Cooperation for Peace”. This decade will start in 2011 and last until 2020. This coalition will promote the peaceful talks and relations between various religions. The coalition calls for a “new spirit of solidarity and a powerful injection of moral and ethical values into our business and political lives". These religious organizations will hopefully allow an important dialogue to take place between these religious communities. "Time and space created by the decade should make a difference for the poor, marginalized, and oppressed peoples of the world". I believe that this is a huge step taken by the United Nations. This international system crossed over state boundaries to focus on an issue that often transcends international politics, religion. It is my hope that through this decade, great strides can be taken to heal wounds that certain religious groups have inflicted on one another, including between the Jewish people of Israel and the Muslims of Palestine.
