Leaders of religious groups vows to foster common values
Leaders of religious groups vows to foster common values
JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of Indonesia's five religious-based organizations of intellectuals concluded a seminar on Indonesian culture yesterday, vowing to temper differences and seek common ground for cooperation.
Diversity could prove to be a weakness if allowed to be used to exaggerate frictions and differences, said Mgr. Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja SJ, chairman of the Indonesian Bishops' Assembly.
"Religions all call for respect for human rights, for people to fight violence, to promote peace, justice and seek the truth," Darmaatmadja said.
He also said that openness, solidarity and recognition of each other's existence constitutes three valuable religious elements that have contributed to the strengthening of national culture and unity.
Herman S. Endo, the chairman of the Indonesian Buddhist Association, said all religions which have peacefully been growing in the country have common values, such as love, empathy and sympathy, equality and solidarity.
"Therefore, different religious groups should establish cooperation...to fight for justice and to take sides with the oppressed," he said.
The four-day seminar was closed by Vice President Try Sutrisno. It was jointly organized by religious-based intellectual organizations formed by Hindus, Moslems, Catholics, Buddhists and Protestants.
Chairman of the Indonesian Churches Community, Sularso Sopater, called on all groups in society to fight feudalism and exclusivism.
Gedong Bagoes Oka of Forum for Indonesian Hindu Intellectuals said that according to Hinduism, all the world is one big family that should live in harmony.
She said that all human beings should live in tranquility with their environment and form natural, dynamic interaction with it.
"The world should strive to preserve peace. This means we should fight against violence and greed," she said, citing India's Mahatma Gandhi.
In addition, all humans should fight violence and all negative elements that grow in their own personalities. (rms)