Issue: Religious freedom: The path to peace

Dec. 31, p. 7

Many of us may not realize that Jan. 1 each year is the World Day of Peace. This tradition dates back to Jan. 1, 1968, when Pope Paul VI initiated the event.
Since then, every year the Pope has published his World Day of Peace message not only for Christians, but all people on Earth.
For 2011 World Day of Peace, Pope Benedict XVI has released the message titled “Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace”.
There are at least three reasons why Pope Benedict has chosen religious freedom as the path to peace.
First, the end of 2010 was again marked by persecution, discrimination, terrible acts of violence and religious intolerance among people around the world.
As we know, a theater of violence can be found in some countries, including Indonesia, even in the name of religion.
Second, it is painful to think that in some areas it is impossible to profess one’s religion freely without risking one’s personal liberty or life, while in other areas we see subtler and more sophisticated forms of prejudice and hostility toward believers and religious symbols.   (By Aloys Budi Purnomo, Semarang)

Your comments:

Islam is not violent or a bad religion. What makes it look like violence is the people, who abuse it.
Happy New Year to all.
Durika
Czech Republic

The Pope says, whether we are Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Hindu, Confucian or a believer of a native religion — we must realize we belong to the same human family that God loves!
Pentti
Sydney

The radicalization that is growing unopposed in government will move us toward even greater oppression and toward a state of violence.
Can we step back to where state and religion are bound together?
No I don’t think we can.
2011 will see even more religious-sponsored violence, more unanswered cases of oppression and violence, increased power and influence for radical groups, more injustice, further indoctrination, more atrocities in the name of god and personal greed.
The Mayans predicted 2012 as the end of days. I am actually starting to believe in that prophecy.
Ariel
Bandung

The government is confused by the radicalization.
Dunk In
Jakarta

I believe there are many things to hope for in 2011 and I do not believe the Mayan prediction about 2012.
Religious freedom should create harmony among followers, and
only then will peace become a
reality.
Ahyar
Jakarta