New York, United States—The president of UPF International was a keynote speaker at an international conference on interethnic and interreligious peacebuilding.
Dr. Thomas Walsh spoke on the topic “The Abrahamic Faiths and Universalism: Faith-Based Actors in a Complex World.”
The 3rd Annual International Conference on Ethnic and Religious Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding was held on November 2 and 3, 2016, at The Interchurch Center on Manhattan’s West Side. The conference organizer was the International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation (ICERM).
More than 100 conflict resolution scholars, practitioners, policymakers, religious leaders, and students from diverse fields of study and professions attended the conference, which this year had the theme “One God in Three Faiths: Exploring the Shared Values in the Abrahamic Religious Traditions.” More than 15 nations were represented.
Dr. Walsh’s keynote speech addressed three major points: the common ground or universalism and shared values among the three traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam; the “dark side” of religion and these three traditions; and some of the best practices that should be encouraged and expanded.
Dr. Walsh noted, “All three traditions are committed to values of justice, equality, mercy, virtuous living, marriage and family, care for the poor and disadvantaged, service to others, self-discipline, contributing to the building or a good society, the Golden Rule, stewardship of the environment.”
The two-day conference concluded with a “Pray for Peace” event.