The motto of this year’s United Nations International Day of Peace, which is celebrated annually on 21 September, was cultivating a culture of peace. To mark this occasion, UPF Munich, in cooperation with the Bavarian Church of Scientology, hosted an interreligious event, a prayer breakfast, on September 14, 2024, in which representatives from three religious communities participated.
Another motto and one which should be a continual incentive, is from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5,9) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God!
The words of UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres were read out: In a world filled with conflict, inequalities and discrimination, we must make even more effort to encourage dialogue, empathy, and human rights for all. On the Day of Peace, let us sow the seeds of non-violence, justice and hope.
After an introduction to the topic and words of the founder of UPF, Dr. Sun Myung Moon, representatives of each of the participating religious communities delivered short keynote presentations.
In his autobiography Rev. Moon wrote: Religion is like a wide river, flowing towards an ideal, peaceful world. The river flows for long distances before it reaches the wide expanse of peace. On its way, many streams flow into it…it embraces all of the streams and forms a single flow on its way to the ocean. People in the world today do not understand this simple truth. The streams that seek out the river and flow into it are the today’s n numerous religions and denominations. Each stream traces its origin to a different spring, but all are headed to the same destination. They are seeking the ideal world overflowing with peace.
The Bavarian Scientology Church showed two short videos about the inalienable rights of man and our responsibility for peace, as a prelude to a short presentation from which the following is excerpted:
A society that lives without inner peace will not be able to live for long in peace. Regardless of religious persuasion, inner peace is a gift from God which is only personally experienced by the practice of a religious life. At the same time, we need a world without war in which mankind can live in safety. And world peace requires action to maintain it.
As Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Scientology Church said: ‘the day that we can trust each other completely, there will be peace on earth.’
Next was a further contribution from the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) with an excerpt from Mother Moon:
Mankind’s most difficult problems can only be solved by God. Here religions have a huge task. They represent God. They should adapt a higher, so to speak parental point of view and make it clear that we are all children of God and thus brothers and sisters.
Rev. Moon: God neither has enemies nor does he harbour hatred. Problems do not lie with God but with us and our image of God and thus our image of mankind. Without God, there is no true love. Without true love there is no true peace. Without God, there is no peace. But it is not all about believing in God, but to incorporate his essence.
In closing, prayers for peace were offered such as this one from St Francis of Assisi.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
The animated discussions which followed were most enriching. This event was not simply one drop on a hot stone, but a stone in the huge mosaic picture of peace.
At the very end, Johann and Eva Altendorfer were recognised as Ambassadors of Peace.
Report Robert Bentele. English: Catriona Valenta