"Principles of Peace", subtitled "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God!" (Matthew 5:9), was the title of the seminar hosted by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Munich on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at its center at Edelsbergstraße 8. In particular, the young adults of UPF Munich extended the invitation to address this important topic. In these times so fraught with conflict, many individuals, religious communities, and other groups are exploring the question of which ideas, principles, and measures can lead to lasting peace.
Mariano Haubold of Youth UPF Munich, whose key initiative brought the seminar about, served as the event's MC and invited the first speaker, Karl-Christian Hausmann, chairman of UPF Germany, to deliver the first lecture. His topic was "God or No God / Religion and Science." He focused primarily on the roots of peace, a central theme of the UPF’s mission. He argued that without a clear understanding of God, the origin of the universe and all life, lasting peace for the great human family is impossible. He defined God as a personal being possessing a parental heart for all people and a clear vision for a world of peace.
Following a discussion on the topic and a break, the second presentation was given by Gudrun Hassinen, vice-chair of UPF Germany and a long-standing UPF member from Berlin. She spoke in depth about the potential roots of human conflict ranging from global armed conflicts to those occurring within the individual, as well as in marriage and the family. In doing so, she drew upon explanations from the Judeo-Christian context, such as those symbolically depicted in the Bible, as well as insights from other religious traditions like Islam and Hinduism. She explained that the causes of the world's conflicts lie deep within humanity's separation from God.
Following the presentations, which were superbly supported by a technical team, a fruitful and lively exchange ensued, surely inspiring the approximately 25 participants to become peacemakers themselves.
Jae-Sook Schmid and many female members of UPF Munich provided refreshments for this highly successful and inspiring peace event.