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CIAO DATE: 10/03
Volume 7, Number 2 (April-June 2003)
Transcending the Clash of Civilisations
Message from the Publisher and Editor-In-Chief, J C Kapur.
Towards Greater Religious and Cultural Harmony
HH The Dalai Lama points out that, to achieve global harmony it is necessary to understand other cultures and traditions, through love and respect for every human being, every religion, every country.
Dialogue of Faiths: Monotheism, Polytheism, Pantheism, Atheism
Drawing a religious map of the world can help us to perceive the points of agreement and the differences between the major spiritual traditions. A systematic comparative analysis highlights the problems and the misunderstandings, making them easier to clarify and resolve says Johan Galtung .
The Hindu Tradition and the Current Religious Crisis
Subhash Kak holds that religions reflect a universal spiritual quest which can bring cultures and people together once they realise their respective creeds' debt to each other. Hinduism provides a suitably open and expansive meeting ground.
What Islam stands for
Saiyid Hamid recalls that Islam like other religions focuses on the virtuous laws and practices which need to be remembered and observed. The Prophet enjoined respect for all divine messengers, which is a precondition for peaceful coexistence between diverse communities.
The Politics of Religion in Nigeria
John Olushola Magbadelo notes that religion has always been manipulated for political ends particularly so in Nigeria. Besides ethnic considerations, the two major faiths, Christianity and Islam dominate the political and cultural scene.
The Elders of Zion and the Masters of Discourse
The Israeli writer Israel Shamir throws some light on the possible significance of the famous and influential Protocols of the Elders of Zion tied with many of the conflicts and tragedies that have marred the interaction between Jews, Christians and Muslims in the last several centuries.
Rediscovering Ancient Bonds between Civilizations
Côme Carpentier De Gourdon explains why it is important to understand the historic and cultural background of the three major religions 'of the Book' whose roots are sunk deep into the turf of polytheistic, Eurasian cosmologies. The differences between polytheism and monotheism are thus found to be less fundamental than is commonly held.
Towards a Merchant-Warrior's Planetary Super-State
Marek Glogoczowski contends that in today's prevailing system, all actions are driven by greed which calls for and justifies violence and war. The seven deadly sins of yore have become the seven values of the modern world, dominated by an exclusively commercial ideology.
Cosmocracy: As the Next Stage in the Development of Democracy
Henryk D Skolimowski analyses the meaning of democracy as we understand it today showing that it does not do justice to the original concept of enlightenment within a common social structure bound by cosmic powers. We need to devise a system that respects the comos, encompassing nature and all beings and recognising the unity of all things.
Documents
Declaration on Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation Between the Republic of India and the People's Republic of China, Beijing, June 23, 2003.
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