Interreligious Prayer for Peace in Munich, Germany

By Magda Haugen and Robert Gottfried Hutter, Roman Catholic Bentele Theologian He spoke about the Jewish/Christian

A t the occasion of the World definition of God’s Kingdom using a Interfaith Harmony Week an Kabbalah-diagram with Hebrew interreligious prayer for peace characters. Values such as wisdom, took place at the center of the Munich goodness and beauty play a vital role. Universal Peace Federation. That is According to Mt. 6:33 we should first always a special challenge for the seek the Kingdom of God and everything Munich UPF, because exactly in this else shall be given afterwards. Christ week is also organized the so called should resurrect within every believer MSC (Munich Security Conference). and we should all become a (small) Michael Rotter, Peace-Educator, The German Chancellor Dr. Angela Messiah. Finally he prayed with all Author Merkel, Prime Ministers, Ministers of participants the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. Mr. Rotter expressed that the best Defense and Secretaries of State and church or mosque for him would be other politicians of many countries are Mother Nature. There he can deeply in the city discussing matters of experience God and heaven. Then he security and peace and surly need our presented the “Peace-Constitution” for fervent prayers. Germany which is following the We really had an up to date reference. constitutions of Japan and Costa Rica. And the topic: “Where Is Heaven? Is He also spoke about that we first there a (my) Kingdom of Heaven?” was should find the peace within ourselves extensively discussed at our vivid and that we can overcome war through gathering of twenty five a constant readiness for peace. Finally representatives and believers of seven he prayed with all of us a Celtic prayer Yusuf Yüzay, Islam-Theologian and different religious communities. in gratitude to water and its creator Imam The following speakers gave a talk and and mentioned that we should be He initiated his presentation with sung peacemakers. presented a prayer of their tradition: recitation of a Qu’ran Surah dealing with the question ‘where is heaven’, and the spoke about that the Qu’ran doesn’t exactly explain clearly where heaven can be found, but precisely how Muslims can prepare themselves for heaven. Especially through the study of the Qu’ran and the Hadize, the extra words of the Prophet Mohammad. A Muslim has to endeavor to reach heaven and find the Allmighty through purifying his heart.

Marlene Straub, International Sufi- likeness of participant after he/she had presented Order God. For her the prayer have surly carried our desire Ms Straub firstly introduced the Sufi- the way of for peace to heaven and the tears that Order and its founder, Hazrat Inayat salvation have been shed brought them back to Khan, and then spoke about the means to find mother earth. necessary unity of all religions that the peace within founder brought to the west together oneself and with mystical music about one then develop hundred years ago. She expressed that attention and also international marriage can be a thoughtfulness means of bringing peace to the peoples for others. of East and West. Regularly she organizes a “Universal Worship Service” honoring all the religions of the world. Finally she performed a prayer of her tradition and shared the ‘Golden Sufi Heart: Love – the Lover – Finally Siegfried Jensen, Pastor of and the Beloved One are one. the Unification Movement Munich, spoke about that the Kingdom of Heaven is not a specific place, but a common project of all of us. Through some pictures from outer space he Gisela Münster, Catholic showed us how small actually our blue Theologian planet is and that we have no reason to Ms Münster was very concerned about be conceited. We live on a small stage the present situation in the world, in the giant universe. He asked: “Is the especially in Ukraine and Syria and Kingdom Heaven only an utopia?” No! asked all of us urgently to pray for People like Bonhoeffer give us hope. peace. That is what we can do. Peace Did we get closer to heaven? Helga Huber, Christian Science starts there where we live. Thoughts Mr Jensen spoke about the way to Church full of goodness and reconciliation are God’s Kingdom which was shown by Mrs. Huber introduced shortly so important. Peace is not only a still Rev. Moon. He mentioned the so called Christian Science, founded by Mary air between two wars, but a movement “Three Blessings”, to perfect oneself Baker Eddy in the USA. Their central from people to people. individually in true love, establish a thought is the knowledge of the divine She asked us: “Does peace start from loving family and create unity with within oneself and the power of you?” Peace starts from small – with creation. Especially he emphasized the healing. The creation is divine and conversation. Then she presented in importance of living for the sake of good: therefore we all should recognize her prayer a variation of the others and the family as a base for the the divine and the good within Beatitudes: Blessed are the ones who culture of peace. Finally he presented ourselves. The one who makes God love the interests of the others like an invitation for the ‘World Peace present within himself becomes a their own, because they will create Blessing’ that is the contribution of the guarantor for peace. The prayer that peace and unity. Blessed are the ones Unification Movement for World Peace she presented focused on esteem, who are always prepared to do the first as a ceremony of peace and appreciation and trust and that divine step, because they will discover that reconciliation. So let’s not wait for wisdom and divine love should always the others are more open than they peace, but recognize it as our common be alive within everyone. first showed… project. Uta Eilzer, Scientology Church In between there were musical There was still a lot to talk about and She offered a prayer for total freedom presentations, songs and songs that we everybody shared their thoughts and of war, poverty and suffering and for sang together: Oivind Haugen/Guitar: visions having also some snacks and the keeping of Human Rights, so that “Halleluja”, Gianni Scarcella/Piano:” refreshments. all people can worship freely and hold Make me a channel of your peace” and We departed with the knowledge that their religious services; and that the Annette Bentele sang the prayer of God’s kingdom is not far anymore. Creator may enable all people to reach Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “Von guten their understanding of their spiritual Mächten wunderbar geborgen…” nature. We should use our potential These songs and the flames of the that is given by God and that is in the candles that were lighted by each