The Efforts of Religious Leaders for a Better World

There are many religious leaders cooperating with HWPL for various peace activities.

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They make up almost 17% of HWPL’s peace messengers, working tirelessly for peace amongst religions through their active participation in the World Alliance of Religions Peace (WARP) Offices’ dialogue of scriptures.

 

Since the very first WARP Office in Irvine, United States in October 2014, there are currently a total of 253 offices in 129 countries. Each WARP office runs dialogue sessions at least once a month. In addition, there are various educational activities and seminars conducted in the HWPL Religious Peace Camps where civic society joins in to gain a better understanding of the different religions and thus spread a culture of peace in their communities. 

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Starting in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic brought upon an unprecedented challenge to people around the world. Many had to face the daunting reality of overcoming a global, virulent outbreak without any vaccines or viable treatments. Many also lost their loved ones and neighbors, and many also lost their jobs in the midst of diminished economic activity on a global scale.

The peace work undertaken by religious leaders working with HWPL could not avoid these overwhelming changes as well.

WARP offices, religious peace camps and other peace activities had to be moved online and required more ingenuity in reaching out to those in crises and to provide much-needed comfort. 

 

During 2020, HWPL held 27 online peace conferences, big and small, where a total of 522 participants of more than 36 religious affiliations and 92 countries gathered to pray for a quicker end to the pandemic and for the world to be given the wisdom and strength to overcome the struggles and trials.

One noteworthy gathering was held on 14th December, titled, “United Hopes & Prayers for a Brighter 2021.” In this special occasion, a total of 258 participants attended the online prayer conference. 11 religious leaders representing 9 different religions led the participants in prayers according their own religious ways. All who participated prayed with one heart and mind.

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HWPL WARP Offices were launched to tackle the difficult task of achieving true religious harmony through comparative study of scriptures by religious leaders and scholars. Since its start in 2014, there have been more than 10,000 dialogues of scriptures held. The reason for conducting the dialogues of scriptures whereby panelist discuss and compare the different religious texts is to achieve advanced, substantive discussions and understandings that go beyond superficial harmony and pleasantries. 

 

Participants gain a deeper understanding of each other’s core doctrines, while laying down any unfounded fears that arise from a lack of knowledge of the other, and thus the risk of extremism and coercion. Truth is pursued through deep dialogue and discussions based on each scripture. Through these efforts, we are able to work towards a future with lasting peace which is a common teaching of religions. 

 

Topics mainly covered in the WARP Offices include subjects like all creation in the world, the beginning of Man, creation, end times, scriptures, religion and its history, the use of figurative language, key figures in religious texts and about the world that we are living in. 

 

At this point, we would like to introduce the South Africa Johannesburg WARP Office, which held its dialogue over September and October 2020 with the topic of

"Figurative language in Scriptures.”

 

In response to the question,

"What is the most misunderstood metaphorical language in your scripture / teachings?” the four religious leaders answered as follows:

 

#SCRIPTURE #RELIGION #WARP_OFFICE

#HWPL #PANDEMIC #COVID_19 #PEACE

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