Peace is a shared aspiration and value in all of our religious traditions. Peace, however, remains an ever-receding goal in our world. Speaking of peace as a shared value is important, but it does not bring about peace. Our traditions offer us transformative peace-making teachings, but these traditions are located in historical and socio-political contexts. They become intertwined and associated, often willingly, with forces and movements that promote violence by privileging one group and marginalizing others.
The rise of religious nationalism in many parts of our world is only one example of an alliance between religion and political forces that is prone to violence. We cannot, therefore, overlook the role of religion in intensifying narrow loyalties, entrenching divisions and providing a justification for violence. We cannot explain away the relationship between religion and violent conflict by the argument that, in all instances, religion is being used or misused for the achievement of power in its various forms. The responsibility of religion in situations of division and conflict must be critically acknowledged. In investigating religion and peace-making our analysis must be hopeful but not simplistic. We must be both self-critical and constructive to lift up the resources of religion for peace-making and the common good. We must make the effort to go deep in our analysis to understand the paradox of religion as both peace-maker and contributor to violence.
Anantanand Rambachan is Professor Emeritus of Religion at Saint Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, USA (1985-2021). He was also Forum Humanum Visiting Professor at the Academy for the Study of World Religions at the University of Hamburg in Germany (2013-2017).
His books include Accomplishing the Accomplished: The Vedas as a Source of Valid Knowledge in Ṡaṅkara;The Limits of Scripture: Vivekananda’s Reinterpretation of the Authority of the Vedas; The Advaita Worldview: God, World and Humanity, A Hindu Theology of Liberation: Not-Two is Not-One; Essays in Hindu Theology; and Pathways to Hindu-Christian Dialogue. In addition, Professor Rambachan has authored numerous book-chapters and journal essays. The British Broadcasting Corporation transmitted a series of 25 lectures on Hinduism by Prof. Rambachan around the world.
Prof. Rambachan has been involved in interreligious relations and dialogue for over 40 years, as a Hindu contributor and analyst. He is a Co-President of Religions for Peace, the largest global interfaith network, and serves as President of the Board of Arigatou International NY, a global organization advocating for the rights of children and mobilizing the resources of religions to overcome violence against children. He also Chairs the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Multifaith Network. He is active in the dialogue programs of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican, and currently participates in the Ethics in Action dialogues at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. In 2008, at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Professor Rambachan delivered the distinguished Lambeth Interfaith Lecture at the Lambeth Palace in London. Professor Rambachan led the first two White House Celebrations of the Hindu Festival of Diwali in 2003 and 2004.
