At a time when religious bigotry and xenophobia are on the rise, there is a critical need for religious leaders around the world to speak out urging understanding and respect among people of different religious traditions and condemnations of religious bigotry. But many are silent.

In an effort to promote one powerful way that religious women and men can combat hatred and violence, the Tanenbaum Center gathers the statements of religious leaders and publicizes them. We hope to inspire other religious leaders to harness religion as a force for peace. In the face of the current rise in religious hatred, the Tanenbaum Center remains committed to preventing and resolving conflicts perpetrated in the name of religion.

"Without ignoring or downplaying our differences as Christians and Muslims, we can and therefore should look to what unites us, namely, belief in the one God.  Such common ground allows us to base dialogue on effective respect for the dignity of every human person, on objective knowledge of the religion of the other, on the sharing of religious experience and, finally, on common commitment to promoting mutual respect and acceptance among the younger generation."

- Pope Benedict XVI responding to a letter sent by 138 Muslim clerics and scholars urging increased dialogue between Muslims and Christians
November 29, 2007

“There is no gainsaying that our society is embedded with several cultures, religions and languages thereby creating a multiplicity rich and vivacious, a fact conceded by the international community as well. Nurtured by profound religious values, for the most part, we have lived in peace and harmony claiming a high civilization which is the envy of many nations. …Where have we gone wrong? Is it due to lack of understanding and trust and being in the grip of hatred and avarice? People are born to live in peace and die in grace. Life span is short and unpredictable. War pushes all hopes to a far distance and embraces only repugnance, hatred and malice. Everybody must make a contribution towards the uplift of the human society at large.”

“I am thinking of the scourge of hunger, of incurable diseases, of terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons.”

“I repeat with insistence: research and interreligious and intercultural dialogue are not an option but a vital necessity for our time.”

Women In Islam, Inc, advocates urgent redress in the humanitarian crisis of Darfur, Sudan, and calls on the warring parties to turn their full attention to peace for the region.  We strongly condemn the human rights violations committed during the course of this conflict.  “We find the sexual violence directed at Sudanese Muslim women by their fellow countrymen, who are also Muslim, to be outrageous.  And the continuing attacks on humanitarian aid workers are deeply troubling,”

The Muslim Public Affairs Council says it "unequivocally condemns any violence in response to the pope's remarks as being antithetical to the teachings of Islam."  The group also is calling for a meeting and dialogue with American Catholic leaders to smooth relations and increase understanding.

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 “Both of our peoples are small peoples, but they could have a great role...Indeed here in the Holy Land it is possible to build the inter-religious bridge that is so needed for peace in the entire world...If the government of Israel gives the rabbis of Israel the opportunity to act for peace within their field, the inter-religious field, perhaps we will be granted peace with Islam, which is so needed for this holy land. The entire world will be grateful to us for that."

“Acts of violence are pushing the peoples of Israel, Lebanon, Palestine and neighboring states toward an abyss of destruction. Innocent people are being killed, civilian infrastructure is being destroyed and the fires of hatreds are being fanned."

“Religion and politics are an explosive mixture and invoking God on one's side in a political dispute is dishonest, callous and dangerous."

“Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved – policy-makers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation’s most cherished values. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.

Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed?

Let America abolish torture now – without exceptions.”

“The perpetrators of this act had no other intention than to stir sectarian hatred and to provoke civil war in Iraq. The Qur'an warns us not to succumb to such provocation, counseling us that if an incitement to discord is made to you by the force of evil, seek refuge in Allah. This verse teaches us that "good and evil are not alike;" and urges us to respond to evil by doing what is more beautiful in behavior, so that the person with whom one bears enmity transforms into a close friend [41:34-36]. This is the Islamic ethical imperative, to transform hatred into compassion, and we call upon all our fellow Muslims to meet this Quranic directive.”

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 “The Koran is clear in stating that any form of violence or harm to a human being is wrong…Call criminals as individuals who have committed a crime, but please don’t connect Islam to these individuals.  Islam is a religion of peace…anyone who follows the way of violence should not be connected to the religion of Islam. A true Muslim would never do that.”

“While the Arab Group understands and emphasizes the right to object to the publication of drawings or texts that disparage any faith or religion, it calls upon Muslims to respond in ways that adhere to the Islamic values and practice which promote dialogue, and bring to light the voice of reason over reactionary measures.  The Group calls on media outlets around the world to respect the sentiments and sacred symbols of Muslims as well as those of other religions for the purpose of promoting peace as well as mutual human understanding and cooperation.  Such action would safeguard milestones and achievements in interfaith dialogue that have accumulated over half a century, especially by Muslims and Christians…

The Arab Group is hopeful that the irresponsible, violent events that have taken place in the past week – which do not reflect Islamic tradition and culture – are the last incidents that violate national and international laws, as well as the moral parameters governing the inviolability of diplomatic premises and foreign missions.  At the same time, the Arab Group deeply wishes that the irresponsible actions that disparage any religion and its people in any media outlet would not be repeated in any shape or form.”

 
 “Many have called this controversy a foreshadowing of a “clash of civilizations.” The National Council of Churches USA, representing the mainstream Christian community in the United States, a community that attempts to live out our deeply held values of justice and peace among all peoples, calls instead for a “dialogue of civilizations.” A dialogue of civilizations will bring together not only religious leaders, but political, academic, media and business sectors of society. While acknowledging the deep differences among us, such a dialogue will encourage participants to a common table at which we can educate each other about those parts of our faith and life that are most holy and significant. It will also provide the opportunity for people of different faiths to come together on values that unite us.”

“Instead of expending our energy increasing the polarization, we should commit to seek together a formula for how to live with one another with mutual respect and understanding.  Using violence or defaming others only destroys and breaks down our civilized world…What we do in the Middle East affects the West, and what you do in the West affects the Middle East.   How much more will it take before we realize we must use our freedoms with greater responsibility for the sake of our neighbors?... From Jerusalem, we challenge Muslim and Christian leaders to gather here in the Middle East, over the chasm of the supposed "clash of civilizations," to meet and create a code of ethics and conduct by which religions and nations should treat one another and deal with religious differences.   From Jerusalem, we pledge to take on this urgent task of making religion a driving force for reconciliation and justice, part of the solution to our world's problems rather than a source of conflict.

If people of faith and living conscience do not stand up and call our religions and our people back to the common values and commitments of love, justice, peace, mutual respect – even forgiveness - who will?"

"We shouldn't diminish the love and respect Muslims have for their prophet Mohammed. This is very important for them and therefore cannot be the object of derision or ridicule."

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"Human co-existence demands a climate of mutual respect, to favor peace between men and nations…Furthermore, certain forms of extreme criticism or derision of others shows a lack of human sensitivity and can in some cases constitute an unacceptable provocation." “Violent actions of protest are [therefore] likewise deplorable…[and never reflect] the true spirit of any religion."

"I see that the entire Christian world is very saddened and pained by satire of this type, aimed at the brothers of another religion…[but we should] not make it an occasion for a clash of civilizations…We should be able to transform offenses in an occasion of greater solidarity.”

 “In our capacity as Muslim and Christian leaders committed to bridging the divides that separate our communities, and as members of the C-100 Coalition of the World Economic Forum, we are saddened and appalled by the cartoons, and the irresponsible actions of papers in Denmark in publishing them. Moreover, we view their subsequent republishing in various other European newspapers as gratuitous and insensitive.

While we recognize the importance of free speech and agree that religions should not be privileged in this regard, the publishing of such insulting cartoons is expectedly being seen by many around the world as an affront to a world faith. This only deepens the suspicion between the West and the Muslim world. At a time when the need for understanding has never been greater, it is sad to see some participate in willful fomentation while others tirelessly advocate for mutual respect and compassion.

In the aftermath of the commotion, we call for calm and peace, as it is firmly our belief that such actions only further prove the need to deepen the dialogue between our faiths and cultures.”

“…We who write you affirm what all the traditions teach that trace their spiritual origin to Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all teach explicitly that to kill even one human being –- even more strongly one who is doing no harm, most especially one who is seeking peace and nurturing human bodies and communities -- is to destroy a world. All other religious traditions agree about the holiness of human lives.

This teaching aaplies to all innocent Iraqis and foreigners who have been killed or taken away in Iraq out of anger against the US occupation - and it applies with special clarity and strength to the members of the Christian Peacemakers Team who are being held in Iraq. Like us, they too opposed the US attack. They came to serve the Iraqi people. They came not only to urge peace but also to live peace..." 

“The cruelty of these brutal acts [the New Delhi Bombings], and their timing so as to inflict maximum casualties, is beyond comprehension. We condemn the bombings, offer condolences to the loved ones of the victims and call for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators

"No political cause can ever be served by such acts. These actions will never bring relief to any grievance and will only serve to foster discord and misunderstanding between people of different faiths.”

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“I was astounded to read excerpts from your sermon in which you concluded that Hurricane Katrina was a punishment from God in response to Israel’s recent withdrawal from the Gaza strip.  I am outraged that a rabbi – in fact a former chief rabbi of Israel, and a much-admired Shas Party leader -- would have the audacity and the lack of sensitivity to suggest that the terrible devastation inflicted by Hurricane Katrina was God’s retribution for President Bush’s support of the withdrawal.

Although you may hold steadfast to this perverse belief, fortunately the vast majority of Jews do not.  The hurricane destroyed the lives of thousands of innocent men, women, and children, and disrupted hundreds of thousands more.  Those lives were tragically ended or upended by an accident of nature.  Neither their religion nor their race – to which you alluded in your sermon -- was a factor.  God’s loved ones are suffering…What humanity needs most at this time is help, not finger-pointing. We need consolation, not anger; love, not hate.”

 “We want to signal the common ground on which we stand as faith leaders, and to reaffirm the values we uphold at this time of sorrow and pain. It is vital, when many will be feeling anger, bewilderment and loss, to strengthen those things we hold in common and to resist all that seeks to drive us apart. Central to what we share as people of faith is a belief in God's compassionate love for us. It is a love that compels us to cherish not to disfigure our common humanity.”

“I strongly condemn yesterday’s violent assault on the citizens  of London.  Every sincere and well-informed Muslim  stands united in this condemnation...

I wish to express my deepest  condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those affected by the  bombings in London on July 7th.  The world’s faithful stand aghast at  these events that have been inflicted upon the ordinary people of London.   Now is the time for nations and religious communities to unite in their  efforts to confront violence and build peace...

Respect for the sanctity of life is the cornerstone of  all great faiths. Religious leaders across the globe must send a clear  message that terrorism is anathema to every religion and must reject it. No  religious tradition can tolerate such behaviour, and all must condemn it."

"The Holy Quran teaches us that 'Whoever kills a human being...it is as if he has killed all humankind: and if he saves a human life, it is as if he has saved the lives of all humankind (Quran 5:32).'

We condemn the abuse of religion by fanatics whose sole purpose is to rouse hate. Nothing is as antithetical to all religion and especially to Islam, as the wanton violence wreaked by the recent attacks in London. We cry out against such violence, and seek to console those who have lost their loved ones and suffered from injuries."

"Britain is a good example of a multicultural society where all faith communities have been living together peacefully. It is now more important than ever to ensure that we do not succumb to terrorism by allowing ourselves to be divided. All faith communities in the UK should make an even stronger resolve to work together in our fight against all forms of terror."

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"We add our voices to those expressing horror, outrage and concern at the attacks on London this morning. We hope that nobody will use these attacks as an excuse to attack others, but we would also want those who carried out these attacks to see for themselves the pain and destruction they have caused. We pray for all those affected, and for those who are working tirelessly to rescue, aid and support them."

"On a day when joy was transformed into horror, Christians cannot help but be reminded of the urgency of God’s call to work for peace and reconciliation...But in the days to come, alongside our prayers must go the determination on the part of Christians to ensure that we do not allow extremists to create divisions between the communities which make up our nation."

"We unequivocally condemn these terrorist attacks. We express our deep condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the victims."

"As it happens I have spent this morning with Muslim colleagues and friends in West Yorkshire; and we were all as one in our condemnation of this evil and in our shared sense of care and compassion for those affected in whatever way.  Such solidarity and common purpose is vital for us all at this time of pain and sorrow and anger.  We in the faith communities will have to continue to stand and work together for the well being of our nation and for our shared understanding of the life that God calls us to. I hope that we shall all keep that vision alive at this deeply sad and testing time."

“We, the Muslim Community, the Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, and the Bektashi Community are proud of our history of multi-religious co-existence in Albania. We proclaim that the dignity of the human person and human value is a gift of God. Our faiths, each in their own way, call us to respect each person’s fundamental human rights. Discrimination and violence against persons or the violation of their basic rights, for us, breaks not only man-made laws, but also God’s law.”

“We will continue to commit ourselves to pray for and to promote tolerance, coexistence, and peace both within our own communities and for the entire Albanian society. We also pledge ourselves to continue the promotion of a “climate of peace” within our communities by stressing to our own officials that preaching must not cause religious hatred.”

"If we don’t want religion to be part of the problem, we must make it part of the solution. During the last four-and-a-half years of violence, the territorial conflict has increasingly been presented as a religious one, with religious terminology employed be de-legitimize and even demonize the other. This “religionization” of the conflict is extremely dangerous. As long as the conflict is perceived as a struggle between the godly and the godless, then we are doomed to an eternal cycle of bloodshed.”

Galvanizing the religious leadership to support peaceful reconciliation, to oppose incitement and prejudicial misrepresentation on all sides, is thus an urgent imperative - and it is possible, especially if the political leadership supports it. In addition, to really combat extremists, and not just contain them, we need to give the moderates (whom I am convinced are the majority) more visibility. Because their voices are not sensational or bloodthirsty, they are hardly heard at all in the media, leading to a distorted public perception and a destructive cyclical process.”

"The terrorist acts of Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda organization ... which result in the death of civilians, such as women and children ... are totally prohibited and are the object of strong condemnation within Islam"

"This is the divine commandment; we must educate a generation to peace and love."

"How is it that Every Jewish prayer ends with the word peace and every Muslim prayer ends with the word peace and we are killing one another?"

"Judaism and Islam have a common task…to bring a message to the whole world.  Don’t we all have one father?  So why should we hurt each other?"

"We, leaders, representatives, Rabbis and Imams of Muslim and Jewish religious communities who have assembled from all over the world for the first World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace affirm our commitment to strive to end all bloodshed and attacks against innocent human beings that offend the right to life and dignity given by the Almighty to all human beings.

We call upon all people to combat hate, ignorance and their causes and to build together a world of peace, rich in diversity, in which all faiths and their practices are respected and protected…

We call upon all religious leaders in Jewish and Muslim congregations around the world to devote regular sermons and addresses to their communities on the importance of inter-religious respect and reverence for all human life under all circumstances."

"All people are created in the image of God…[It is]…a moral imperative to treat each human being with reverence and dignity. We…all are made in the image of God every human being.  No legal category created by mere mortals can revoke that status. Torture — the deliberate effort to undermine human dignity — is a grave sin and affront to God."

"International Human Rights Day, observed on December 10 each year, is an occasion for reflection on how many people around the world continue to be denied their rights and fundamental freedoms, the rights and freedoms that respect the image of God in every human being, and that are enshrined in international law…

At this moment in history many hard-won human rights guarantees are once again being questioned and challenged, in the name of national security and the 'war against terrorism'. Churches must remember and resume their historic support for the principles of human rights and for the legal protections of human dignity."

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"We have even learned to work across faith boundaries, particularly with our Muslim sisters. When I am asked, "How do you do that?" my answer is that "We don't call it interfaith dialogue. We are just doing service together." For example, in our peace network, it is peace we talk about, not our faith. That has had a very big impact. When the Darfur issue came up, we started gathering with the women of Darfur. We organized training on peace issues, and prayed together. Nobody calls this a Christian-Muslim dialogue. It was just a work meeting…

 Sometimes, when I look at the things happening in my country, I ask: Where is God? He created us in his image. Why then is the image of God violated in women? But then my faith tells me: Yes, there is one God. It is this basic faith in the one God that makes us tell the world that violence against women is evil, is a sin, and we must confess it. In spite of the violence that women suffer, we are created in the image of God, and we deserve to live a life in dignity.

We have also started talking about reconciliation, because we think that peace is fragile: if we don't talk about reconciliation, communities can easily slip back into conflict. We think that the only way towards sustainable peace is reconciliation and healing of our community, healing of the people, healing of the country."

"The Anglican and Old Catholic Bishops in mainland Europe, during our Conference in Wislikhaven, Switzerland, 17-19 November 2004, have observed with great concern that, in a number of countries in central and western Europe, tensions have risen between the Islamic and non-Islamic populations, provoked by a number of acts of violence.

Many comments by journalists and politicians with respect to this development have given the impression that among the non-Islamic population a radical Christian "fundamentalism" -- or even Christendom as such -- is at work as a counterpart to a radical Islamic "fundamentalism," and which is equally open to the use of violence.

 The Bishops reject all such characterizations in whatever form they are presented. Since at least the end of the Second World War, European churches represented in ecumenical bodies in central and western Europe have never furthered a radical Christian "fundamentalism" which has preached violence or permitted it to be preached. On the contrary, the churches have supported and encouraged a continuing dialogue with non-Christian religions, which has often led to positive results. Moreover, the Bishops also condemn any tendency to label Islam as such as a religion that promotes violence."

“We should be strong in our hearts and work together, united.  Thanks to our Muslim neighbors, who helped us. Let God protect our country, and let peace live in our hearts."

"Violence in the name of God and religion calls for passionate and reasoned refutations. Our three Abrahamic traditions have their share in that sacrilege, both in history and in the present. In our respective languages, speaking from within our communities, we recognize that we are different as Jew, Christian, Muslim, and we treasure our differences as a richness. We recognize even more strongly our common call to honor and preserve the dignity and sanctity of human life."
- Bishop Krister Stendahl; Rabbi Dr. Marc Gopin; and Abdulaziz Sachedina, Muslim, 6/2004

"In my Bible, it says: ‘Anyone who says I love God and hates his brother is a liar.’"

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"The Jewish people must face the reality of needing coexistence in peace and justice…This requires halakhically and ethically unprecedented efforts to reach out to others, to learn from everyone's wisdom and to share our own on how to coexist with other religions without war, and even with deep respect."

"As I read the Koran, it becomes obvious to me that Muslims are required to engage in instituting the good and advancing justice for all humans, as humans…Jews, Christians, and Muslims are called upon to bear witness to God's mercy and establish justice and peace among all nations of the world as part of their moral-spiritual commitment…The endless violence committed against any human being, whether Muslim or non Muslim, makes it urgent for the Children of Abraham to engage in creating partnerships in "competing to do the good" and spreading the ethics of just relationships."

"Love one another warmly, and be eager to show respect for one another."