Indigenous religions have values that add to peace, says statement

Published: 2005-01-25

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The world's traditional tribal or indigenous religions are rich in values that can contribute to peacemaking, but they need to be better known and supported, said participants in a Vatican meeting. In most traditional religions, "peace is viewed in terms of harmony with all facets of reality: the seen and unseen, the divine and the human, the cosmic and the historical," said the final statement from the Jan. 12-15 meeting. Sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, the meeting brought together Catholics from North and South America, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific who were specialists in traditional religions, often because they had been raised in families that follow those religions. The final statement was released in late January. "Peace in traditional religions is fostered by a communitarian as opposed to an individualistic way of life," the statement said. Traditional religions contribute to peace by emphasizing a sense of responsibility and stewardship for the gifts of the created world, it said.

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