An overview of interfaith initiatives by the Universal Peace Federation promoting interfaith understanding, respect, and cooperation. World peace can be fully accomplished only when the wisdom and efforts of the world’s religious leaders are combined cooperatively and respectfully with the endeavors of national political leaders. Absent the recognition of spiritual principles, the world has drifted increasingly toward analyses and prescriptions that are materialistic and secular in nature. In so doing, we have lost sight of the profound wisdom to be found in humanity’s spiritual heritage. Global institutions must be built on a foundation that takes into account the full potential of the human being, not only as a political, economic, and social being, but also as a spiritual being with spiritual needs and a capacity for spiritual wisdom and insight. The legacy of the world’s great saints, prophets, sages, and spiritual leaders cannot be denied or discounted without ignoring what is most fundamental about the human being. In too many ways the history of religion has been marked by narrow sectarianism, strife, and competitive struggle with other faiths, all to the detriment of the cherished goals and teachings of the founders and scriptures. This cannot continue. The need to eliminate corruption, selfishness, and bad governance applies not only to all nations but also to all of the world’s religions. Lasting peace depends on cooperative partnerships between governments and religions, as well as NGOs and representatives of the private sector. The United Nations can benefit from a council of religious and spiritual leaders to bring broad vision and wisdom to the effort to address critical global problems. International conferences, publications, networking, and on-the-ground activism are mechanisms for interfaith cooperation and lay a foundation for spiritual renewal at the United Nations.

1. P

2. Peace
The Universal Peace
Federation and its global
network of Ambassadors
for Peace bring
universal, spiritual
principles to the task of
resolving conflict and
reconciling the divided
human family.
UPF World Assembly 2007 in New York

3. Principles
• We are one human family
created by God.
• The highest achievements
of men and women are
rooted in spiritual and moral
development.
• The family is the “school of
love and peace.”
• Peace comes through
dialogue and cooperation.
• Service is the foundation of
reconciliation.
Founded in 2005 by Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon

4. Working for Peace
UPF’s Middle East Peace Initiative
includes
• interfaith pilgrimages
• fact-finding tours
• leadership consultations
• grassroots encounters
Jerusalem

5. Visiting Sacred Places
Visits to a church, mosque, and synagogue in St. Petersburg, Russia.

6. Offering Prayers for Peace
Honduras (above), Ghana (below)
Slovakia (above), Canada (below)

7. Peace in Sacred Teachings
Buddhism:
May those frightened
cease to be afraid, and
may those bound be free.
May the powerless find
power, and may people
think of befriending one
another.
Italy

8. Peace in Sacred Teachings
Christianity:
Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall
be known as the Children of
God. Love your enemies, do
good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse
you.
Peru
Russia

9. Peace in Sacred Teachings
Confucianism:
When the heart is set right,
then the personal life is
cultivated. When the personal
life is cultivated, then the family
life is regulated. When the
family life is regulated, then the
national life is orderly. And
when the national life is orderly,
then there is peace in the
world.
Korea

10. Peace in Sacred Teachings
Hinduism:
May there be peace on
earth. May thy Vedic Law
propagate peace all
through the world. May all
things be a source of
peace to us. And may thy
peace itself, bestow
peace on all, and may
that peace come to me
also.
Nepal

11. Peace in Sacred Teachings
Islam:
If the enemy incline towards
peace, do thou also incline
towards peace, and trust God,
for the Lord is the one that
heareth and knoweth all things.
And the servants of God, Most
Gracious are those who walk
on the Earth in humility, and
when we address them, we
say “PEACE.”
Thailand
Malaysia

12. Peace in Sacred Teachings
Judaism:
Come let us go up the
mountain of the Lord, that
we may walk the paths of
the Most High. And we
shall beat our swords into
into pruning hooks. Nation
shall not lift up sword
against nation—neither
shall they learn war any
more.
Israel

13. Peace in Sacred Teachings
Sikhism:
God adjudges us according
to our deeds, not the coat
that we wear: that truth is
above everything, but higher
still is truthful living. Know
that we attaineth God when
we loveth, and only that
victory endures in
consequences of which no
one is defeated.
India
United Kingdom

14. Peace in Sacred Teachings
Shintoism:
Although the people living
across the ocean surrounding
us are all our brothers and
sisters, why are there constant
troubles in this world? Why do
winds and waves rise in the
ocean surrounding us? I only
earnestly wish that the wind
will soon puff away all the
clouds which are hanging over
the tops of the mountains.
Japan

15. Peace in Sacred Teachings
Unificationism:
A life of vertical “noontime” alignment casts no
shadow. I pray that we can
wipe away the tears of
people in misery
and poverty, and lead an
illuminated life of eternal
true love that dissipates all
darkness.
Switzerland
Marshall Islands

16. Service
After the 2011 earthquake
and tsunami in Japan, UPF
partnered with Christian
Disaster Response to train
volunteers doing clean up in
northern Japan. This
sparked a collaboration of
NGOs and government
offices involved in disaster
relief.

17. Service
Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim students cleaned a
Muslim school in Bangkok damaged by flood waters. This
collaboration was facilitated by the Thailand National
Interreligious Peace Council.

18. Service
Young people of
various faiths built a
classroom and toilet
facilities for students in
a community near
Lumbini, Nepal, the
birthplace of Buddha.
Tamil and Sinhalese
youth worked together
to build facilities in
Polonnaruwa, a town
that suffered from civil
war in Sri Lanka.

19. Service
Students from Beirut traveled
to Nabatieh in southern
Lebanon and worked with
local people to create a mural
showing a common vision of
peace.

20. Dialogue
Through formal and informal
dialogue, religion and
spirituality impact the
worldviews, values, and
practices of humanity
worldwide.
USA (above), Albania (below)

21. Dialogue
Scholars of religion, diplomats, and government
leaders gathered in Jordan for a conference on the
role of religion in international relations exploring the
“Prospects for Dialogue and Reconciliation in Syria.”

22. Dialogue
At a forum in Indonesia, a Muslim emphasized
harmonizing words and deeds, a Buddhist spoke about
the importance of listening, and a Hindu advocated
“heart, humility, humanity, and harmony.”

23. Dialogue
A spirited discussion
during World
Interfaith Harmony
Week in Warsaw,
Poland.
Forums in Munich
and Stuttgart,
Germany included
speeches, readings,
and prayers,
followed by dinner
conversations.

24. Dialogue
Interfaith forums stimulate
conversation and deeper
understanding about each
other’s experiences, concerns,
and beliefs.
Washington, DC, USA
Switzerland: Model UN Interreligious
Council session (above), Ethiopia:
Interreligious Council members (right)

25. Dialogue
In forums on reconciliation
and forgiveness in the UK,
speakers talked about their
experiences with people of
other religions, challenges
they have faced in life, and
how they drew upon the
resources of their faith.
UPF-Netherlands’
Dialogue Center in
Amsterdam hosts frequent
multifaith and multicultural
events.

26. Dialogue
Discussions in St. Lucia
about spiritual values.
Youth from various faiths
participate in a forum in
Austria.

27. Cooperation
At an observance of
World Interfaith
Harmony Week 2012
at the UN General
Assembly Hall,
diplomats and UN
officials joined religious
leaders and officials of
faith-based charities to
discuss greater
cooperation.

28. Cooperation
In Bangkok, a year of
consultations and a
World Interfaith
Harmony Week
commemoration built
momentum toward the
inauguration of the
Thailand Interfaith
Peace Council in
September 2011.
Thailand

29. Cooperation
After attacks killed 77
people in July
2011, UPF-Norway
held a forum in
partnership with the
Oslo Central Mosque
featuring political
leaders and a youth
panel.
Faith leaders lit candles at a 9/11
memorial service at the United
Nations.

30. Cooperation
Young athletes from
different religions and
nationalities converge
in the spirit of good
sportsmanship.
Friendly football
matches bring
together youth from
nations and
communities that have
suffered tension and
division.
Youth from
Baltic nations
compete in
Estonia.
Athletes build
friendships in
Georgia.

31. Reconciliation
The disputed presidential
elections of 2010 in Cote
d’Ivoire sparked a civil
war. Ambassadors for
Peace reached out to
religious leaders and met
with the Dialogue, Truth
and Reconciliation
Commission to plan a
grassroots campaign to
teach peace principles.

32. Reconciliation
Jews, Christians, and Muslims
participating in the Middle East
Peace Initiative demonstrate a
heart of reconciliation as
members of one human family
under God.

33. Partnerships
Community organizers
plan grassroots
cooperation among
religious groups in
Colombia.
Discussions in
Israel include a
proposal to
establish an
interreligious
academy.

34. Universal Peace Federation
www.upf.org