Press Release

Published 30.01.2010 Author: Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches

Open Forum debates religion's violent potential

At the Davos Open Forum, FSPC President Thomas Wipf joins religious representatives and experts to debate the question whether religion's claim to truth leads to violence. WCC General Secretary Olav Fykse Tveit encourages churches to promote open dialogue.

"My truth cannot be other people's truth. I have no right to impose it on anyone, let alone by violence," declared Thomas Wipf, President of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (FSPC) yesterday at the Davos Open Forum. A panel of six, chaired by Swiss TV host Urs Leuthard, debated the question "does religion's claim to truth lead to violence?"

Wipf added that truth was an ongoing search, not a claim to dominance. He pointed out that most "religious wars" were, in reality, political disputes with religious overtones. Marcia Pally, Professor of Multicultural Studies at New York University, echoed this opinion. She commented that people were "very good at legitimizing violence. Religion is therefore one pretext among money."

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Olav Fykse Tveit, was at the Davos Open Forum for the opening evening. Tveit was impressed with the lively discussions. He felt it was right not to leave everything to politicians and economic leaders. "As churches, we do well to promote dialogue. Ultimately we do have specific proposals and viewpoints." Tveit continued, "we must always be mindful of the consequences of our actions have for the world's poorest people."

The FSPC has published a special edition of its "bulletin" for the Davos Open Forum, in a new magazine layout. Articles and interviews highlight the seven panel topics from an ecclesiastical and ethical perspective. Thus they communicate the issues debated in Davos to the readership. Order, subscribe to and download the "bulletin" at www.openforumdavos.ch.

Printable version