UPF Meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, How can Religions contribute to Peace?

The two speakers together with the organizers from both UPF and the local Lutheran “Meeting Place Amager” intercultural dialog-initiative.

T he topic of this meeting was active role for peaceful coexistence fruitful and in this way the two “How can religions contribute to among cultures and faiths. speakers and all participants could get peace?” It was organized in feedback and new ideas. It became connection with and in support clearer for everyone that religion and of UN ´s 5th “World Interfaith people of faith do play a crucial role in Harmony Week “and was held in the contributing to peace on all levels. local public house “Kvarterhuset”. There were two guests speakers presenting their views on the topic: Mr. Murtaza Al Shawi, spokesman for the Imam Ali Mosque and Pastor Andreas Rasmussen from the Apostel Church. Both speakers were stressing The two speakers Mr. Murtaza Al Shawi the importance of practical projects on and pastor Andreas Rasmussen the local level to realize peaceful coexistence of people of different faiths. Around 40 guests attended the meeting They shared about their initiatives of which in two ways was different from Discussions at the tables having “open house” each Sunday in previous ones. First it was arranged the mosque and Christian jointly by UPF and “Meeting Place Between each part of the program there congregations visiting neighboring Amager”, which is an interreligious and was a musical performance, among mosques. These initiatives were very intercultural dialog-initiative by the which a video was shown with the song much helping to open up for dialog and local Danish Lutheran church. “The Gift of Love” by Sami Yusuf, the breaking down prejudices. Also the Secondly the form of the meeting was World´s first Interfaith Anthem that point was raised how the public different since after the two was presented in connection with the perception of religion has changed the presentations, there was a “discussions UN ´s 5th “World Interfaith Harmony last decade, as just being a private at the tables” arranged, followed by Week. An example of how music and matter of each believer, to realizing that each table presenting the views and art can play important role in building religion must be brought in on the ideas discussed on the topic. The bridges of peace. public stage by politicians and plays an discussions became very lively and