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Closing Speech of His All Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, at the completion of Peace and Tolerance II
Honorable and Beloved Participants of this Conference,
We were filled with joy upon hearing the opinions on God's peace in the world, coming from many different religious traditions, which were expressed during these days.
The common point that connects all of us and our opinions is that we all have God as the starting point of our existence, and His will as the foundation of the moral evaluation of human behavior. For us the world has a purpose, thus human existence has a purpose. History is headed toward one end and her course is ruled by spiritual laws, in the same way as the natural laws rule the harmonious operation of the universe. All these purposes and laws have been set in place by the Good Creator of the world. Harmonizing our life according to them leads us to eternal blissfulness.
There are two opposing views that stand against our common belief. One is predominant in a large number of people of the so-called Western Civilization. It has its foundation in someone who has cut himself or herself off from every relationship with God, and considers a human being as independent and separated. The second view ignores the oneness of God and tries to face natural life and supernatural reality through a great number of spiritual beings, which by various names and attributes control one's freedom. Both of these views lead to a hopeless void. Neither do they provide an answer to the universal question on the meaning of life, nor do they give the possibility of a personal relationship with the "other" person that is constantly searched for.
In an effort to fill this void, the autonomic people of the West create bio-theories and ideologies. These however are intellectual creations that cannot offer the experience of a relationship and do not abolish loneliness. As far as the people in the East and West who pursue communication with the spirits are concerned, they discover that a relationship that is being developed between a person and the spirits is not a relationship of love and affection, but rather one of servile dependency.
We, who believe in one personal God, have the experience of His love and His peace; His peace that takes root in our soul and fulfills and gives rest to it, once the communion between the personal existences of the humble human being and of the great God are restored.
As religious leaders aware of human imperfection, we speak the language of truth, adjusted to the spiritual level of each person.
We condemn terrorism as socially detrimental.
We recommend the peace and cooperation of the citizens, independently of religious beliefs, and all other discrimination, as socially advantageous.
But above all, we value the personal relationship of love to God and to our fellow human being. This relationship is the perfect model, which we should strive to achieve. When it is achieved, and to the degree it is achieved, it abolishes violence and war, and establishes peace, for "love thinks no evil" for anyone (A Cor. 13:5).
With this feeling of love for all, for those of the same faith, and those of a different faith; for those who agree and for those who disagree; we come to an end. We thank you for your effective contribution in the work of this Conference that aimed at accomplishing our peaceful cooperation for the consolidation of the peace of God to the world, and we direct our wholehearted greeting to all of you.
May the grace and the abundant mercy of God be with all of you. Amen.
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