The Seventh Assembly of the World Conference ofReligions for Peace, meeting in Amman, Jordan, had as
its theme “Action for Common Living.” The Assemblybrought together delegates and participants from 15 religious traditions drawn together from 70 countries, carrying on a tradition begun in Kyoto, Japan, in 1970.
Coming together at the end of the 20th century, on
the eve of the 21st Century and the Third Millennium
as represented in the common calendar, the membersof the Assembly commit themselves to join together forcommon living and to build a global culture of peace.
Whereas the millennium represents a symbolic markingof time, it has the potential to be a turning point-a time
for renewal and recommitment. In fostering a culture ofpeace, the diversity of cultures and traditions can be affirmed and celebrated, just as the commonalties are alsorecognized, shared and celebrated. Acknowledging thatsuch has not always been the case, the religious communities recognize a renewed opportunity to present toa pluralistic world models of peace and reconciliation inkeeping with their sacred texts, teachings and warrants.
In such a world, the responsibilities of the religious
communities include not only expanding the essential
dialogue among civilizations but also to commitments
to common action

Common Humanity
Religions for Peace affirms a common humanity inwhich men and women are recognized first as humanbeings with dignity and integrity, and rights and responsibilities, whether these are perceived as God given, areflection of a divine nature, derived from cosmic laws,
inherent sacredness, or oneness with the universe. When
we affirm our common humanity, we are then able toaffirm our other forms of identity, such as race, religion, age, gender, ethnicity, and status, as part of thewonderful diversity of human life. Religions for Peace
realizes that socially recognized divisions can set individual against individual, group against group, majorities
and minorities against each other, resulting in inclusion
or exclusion, privilege or denial, dignity or deprivation.
The rights embodied in the International Bill of Rights,
with its inclusion of civil, political, economic, social andcultural rights, can never be realized apart from the actualization of the common ethical concerns embodied
in all religious traditions. These call us to be individuallyand socially responsible for our neighbors and those inneed. They help us draw on the sources of love, duty
and responsibility as the foundations that undergird theestablishment of justice.

“Common living requires not only the transformation of cultural, social, economic, civil,political and military institutions, but also of religious institutions...[These institutions]possess social and moral resources that give them the potential to promote peace, and toprevent violent conflict, through enabling direct communication and dialogue, educationand training. True reconciliation requires the painful acknowledgment that both religious
patterns and the actions of religiously motivated people have also caused conflict, sufferingand pain...[and] confession of our culpability and proactive efforts to restore broken human relationships. Reconciliation requires the search for truth and the acknowledgmentof accountability, processes that can be liberating.”

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Common Security
Religions for Peace asserts that the achievement ofcommon security for humanity and all forms of life requires a holistic understanding of the nature of security
as well as a comprehensive commitment to action. On
the one hand, there must be the elimination of militarism and militarization in all their manifestations, including developments in space.
On one level, Religions for Peace calls for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, including biological, chemical and nuclear; on another level, we call for theelimination of conventional weapons that can take theirdeadly toll, individual by individual, in any environmentof violent conflict. These activities must be paralleledwith the development of non-violent methodologies ofconflict resolution. Further, the gross distortion of social priorities resulting from the inordinate expenditures
on military establishments and weapons must be ended.
Just as peace is more than the absence of war, so security
is more than the elimination of armaments.
On the other hand, instruments to preserve just orderand compassionate governance must be developed toincorporate the interrelated aspects of community security, social, economic and environmental security, all ofwhich are interactive in the development of the sense ofcommon human security. Insecurity and fear have been
identified as among the causes of conflict, reliance on armaments and the instrumentality of war. Freedom fromfear and freedom from want are linked. The security ofsome can never be permanently achieved by creating insecurity for others. A proper sense of security requires
both trust and the risk of shared vulnerability.

Common Interdependence
Religions for Peace recognizes that the peoples of theworld are interdependent, existing within a web of economic and environmental realities, made more urgent by
the dynamics of globalization with both its positive andnegative impacts. A concept of just and sustainable human development, holistic in its nature, is dependent on
the development of equitable and fair systems of production and distribution, capable of providing for thematerial survivaland needs of all persons and accessible to all. Such systems must enable the elimination of the poverty andpowerlessness that characterizes the lives of a major
proportion of the human family. Eradicating poverty inthe first decades of the 21st century is feasible, affordable, and a moral imperative for humanity. Developmental and environmental challenges cannot be separated
because of the depletion of non-renewable resources,
global warming, and all forms of environmental pollution and degradation. These weaken the capacity ofthe ecosystem to produce and regenerate, particularly as
population growth multiplies the demands. Exploitative
patterns threaten not only the ecosystem, but also increase the hardships and suffering of the marginalized
and portend a damaged if not destroyed planet for future generations.

Common FutureReligions for Peace asserts that our common futureis embodied in our children. It is the responsibility of
religious and civil communities to assure the entitlementof children to achieve the fullness of life. Our children
are the most visible sign of that which binds us together
in the human family. Their welfare and future make themost demanding claims on our human and material resources. Our children deserve to be protected from diseases that are preventable; from the ravages of war andviolence that are inexcusable and that exact their heaviest
toll on women and children; from all forms of exploitation, whether manifest in child labor, in the use of children as soldiers, or in the victimization of commercial
sexual exploitation. They are to be spiritually, intellectually and physically nurtured in supportive families andcommunities, which in turn need the social, institutionaland economic backing that makes such nurture possible.
They are to be enriched through educational systems
that provide literacy and the skills necessary to insure
the achievement of their highest potential, not boundedby artificial or traditional limitations based on gender,class or other forms of identity. Religions for Peace calls
for a new paradigm for children from needs to rights,
from vulnerability to strength. Common Living Religions for Peace believes that common living requires not
only transformation of cultural, social, economic, civil,political and military institutions, but also of religious in-Religions for Peace I 777 United Nations Plaza I New York, NY 10017 USA I 212-6871-2163 I www.religionsforpeace.org

institutions. Such transformation must also be reflectedin the conversions of individual hearts, minds and spirits.
Religious institutions can and must be part of a renewing process. The process must begin with their own reconciliation. They possess social and moral resources thatgive them the potential to promote peace, and to prevent
violent conflict, through enabling direct communicationand dialogue, education and training. True reconciliation
requires the painful acknowledgment that both religious
patterns and the actions of religiously motivated people have also caused conflict, suffering and pain. Perpetuation of the memory of grievances and suffering
is constantly recalled and even exploited. Reconciliation
therefore requires confession of our culpability andproactive efforts to restore broken human relationships.
Reconciliation requires the search for truth and the acknowledgment of accountability, processes that can beliberating. The requirements of justice include holding
individuals, civil society and states responsible for theiractions. However, acts of vengeance and retribution
simply perpetuate the cycles of violence. We know thatthe past cannot be undone. Restitution and restoration,
insofar as they can be realized, must be part of the process of reconciliation because they contribute to justiceand healing. The past, however, should not be forgotten
in order to ensure that it not be repeated.

Comprehensive Education For Peace
Religions for Peace commits itself to the promotionof comprehensive education for peace and common living. Education involves the transmission of the values
and heritage of our traditions. If that transmission focuses on the grievances of the past, or is distorted by
exclusive tendencies, then the seeds of discontent andintolerance are perpetuated. The transmission of values
into the third Millennium must include a broader understanding and respect for the values and contributionsof diverse religions and cultures, in order that a sharedculture of peace may be the beneficiary of not just one
tradition but of the rich legacy of our diverse heritages.
Education also involves the preparation of the individual to participate and contribute to society, to the wellbeing of all, to act for common living. Hence the skillsof listening and hearing, of promoting tolerance andunderstanding, of healing and of reconciliation, and ofbuilding a culture of peace must be ongoing elementsof learning at all levels of education and all social meansof communication. Most particularly within our respective religious communities, we are called to witness forjustice and peace.

Hope And Commitment
Religions for Peace’s vision and hope are for common
living in the 21st century. Hope because the vision of ajust and peaceful world is attainable. Hope because weknow both the challenges of the world and the possibilities for their solutions. Hope because the resources formeeting humanity’s basic needs are available if only wehave the will to use them appropriately. Hope because allof our religious traditions claim commitment to peace
and the achievement of the common good.
Hope, however, must be manifest in action. Religions for Peace therefore commits itself to work for theachievement of these common goals in the new millennium. Religions for Peace calls upon all religious communities to bear witness through education, advocacy,and action for the common good.
The one place where all peoples presently come together is the United Nations. Its charter mandates theachievement of peace, the fulfillment of human rights,
the institution of the rule of law, and the promotionof better standards of life for all people. One finds atthe United Nations, symbolic testimony to our spiritual commitments. It is found in the artistic and cultural
artifacts that are visible in its corridors. The world canread there the words that we are to beat our swords intoplowshares, our spears into pruning hooks; that we are
to do unto others what we would have others do untous; and that we have been made of a common humanity
and that the most honored among us are the most righteous. May our global actions for common living findfulfillment in the new millennium, that hearts and minds
may be converted as instruments of peace and wisdom,that the value of human life is manifest in our treatmentof all people, and that we may be honored as among
those who are righteous.

Religions for Peace I 777 United Nations Plaza I New York, NY 10017 USA I 212-6871-2163 I www.religionsforpeace.org