Reconciliation critical to ending conflicts, former ambassador says

Published: 2004-11-12

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Reconciliation and respect for religion are essential components to rebuilding peace and reducing tensions between countries and societies, said the former U.S. ambassador for religious freedom. Robert Seiple, who also served as president of the World Vision relief organization and now heads the Institute for Global Engagement, said that throughout his career he has been struck by the number of people "willing to die for their faith." Paradoxically, there seems to be an equal number of people "willing to kill for their faith," he said during a Nov. 11 symposium in Washington on religion and security. The symposium was sponsored by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Citing examples such as Kosovo and Iraq, he said that when religion is an element in conflict the wars tend to be "more brutal, more destructive and less predictable."

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