The aim of World Religion Day is to promote interfaith understanding and harmony by emphasizing the common denominators underlying all religions. Mankind, with its single origin, must now strive towards the reconciliation of that which has been split up. Furthermore, in this day and age human unity and true equality depend more on future goals, on what we are becoming and whither we are going. The prime cause of age-old conflict between man and man has been the absence of one ethical belief, a single spiritual standard. World Religion Day observances help to foster a unified approach to the changes that confront humanity, an approach that sees the whole earth as a single country and humanity its citizens.
READINGS and PRAYERS
The essences of all religions speak of peace, compassion, justice and the inter-connection of all life.Jo Ann Emerson (1950-2025)
The highest religion is to rise to universal brotherhood; aye, to consider all creatures your equals
Guru Nanak (Sikh Faith)
Become as true brethren in the one and indivisible religion of God, ………………… for verily God desireth that your hearts become mirrors unto your brethren in the Faith, so that you find yourselves reflected in them, and they in you.
The Báb (1819-1850) — (Bábí Faith)
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows His riches on all who call upon Him. For everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord will be saved.
St Paul (Romans 10.12-13)
There is a spirit which was before the heavens and the earth were: it is the one dwelling in silence, beyond earthly forms, never-changing, omnipresent, inexhaustible.
I do not know its name, but if I have to give it a name, I call it Tao, I call it the Supreme.
Taoism
Man’s law changes with his understanding of man.
Only the laws of the spirit remain always the same.
Native American tradition
There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed.
The fundamental purpose animating the faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men.
Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892) – Bahá’í Faith
Knoweth thou this, O prince, that whenever the world declineth in virtue and righteousness, and vice and injustice mount the throne – then cometh I, the Lord, and revisit the world in visible form, and mingleth as a man with men, and by my influence and teachings do I destroy the evil and injustice and re-establish virtue and righteousness. Many times have I thus appeared: many times hereafter shall I come again.
Hindu Faith
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Jesus (St John 10.16)
The names of many Messengers are inscribed
In the records of many nations and many tongues,
And many were the forms in which their message was delivered,
According to the needs of the times and the understanding of the people ;
And manifold were the lives of the Messengers,
And manifold also was the response of their people ;
But they all witnessed to the One Truth
Of God’s unity, might, grace and love.
As the records of man are imperfect,
And the memory of man unstable,
The names of many of these Messengers
Are known in one place and not in another,
Or among one people and not among others,
And some of their names may have perished utterly;
But their message stands one and indivisible,
Even though it may have been forgotten,
Or twisted by ignorance, error, superstition or perversity,
Or misunderstood ‘in the blinding light
Of time or tortuous Circumstance.
A.Yusuf Ali (from introduction to his translation of the Holy Qur’an)
The whole purpose of religion is to facilitate love,
compassion, patience, tolerance, humility and forgiveness.
You can develop the right attitude toward others if you have kindness, love and respect for them, and a clear realization of the oneness of all human beings.
Dalai Lama
The final goal of all religions is to realize this essential oneness. The essence of all religions is one; only their approaches are different.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
Therefore must all souls become as one soul, and all hearts as one heart. Let all be set free from the multiple identities that were born of passion and desire, and in the oneness of their love for God find a new way of life.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1844-1921) – Bahá’í Faith
With an open mind, seek and listen to all the highest ideals. Consider the most enlightened thoughts. Then choose your path, person by person, each for oneself.
Zoroastrian Faith
In a world where various forms of modern tyranny seek to suppress religious freedom, or try to reduce it to a subculture without right to a voice in the public square, or to use religion as a pretext for hatred and brutality, it is imperative that the followers of the various religions join their voices in calling for peace, tolerance, and respect for the dignity and rights of others.
Pope Francis (1936-2025)
By the grace of God’s Name
May all humanity find itself lifted higher and higher.
Sikh Faith
Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.
St Paul (Ephesians 4:3)
It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more;
Micah 4.1-3
INTERFAITH REFLECTION
In striving to recognize the primacy of Fire and Light, I feel kinship with my Zoroastrian brothers and sisters.
In striving to obey the Ten Commandments, I feel kinship with my Jewish brothers and sisters.
In striving to be kind to neighbour and the needy, I feel kinship with my Christian brothers and sisters.
In striving to be compassionate to creatures great and small, I feel kinship with my Buddhist and Jaina brothers and sisters.
In striving to surrender myself completely to God Almighty, I feel kinship with my Muslim brothers and sisters.
In the recognition that wisdom flows from enlightened masters, I feel kinship with my Sikh brothers and sisters.
In remembering that serving people should be the goal of religion, I feel kinship with my Baha’i brothers and sisters.
In my respect and reverence for Nature that sustains us, I feel kinship with my Native American brothers and sisters.
In feeling that these and more are all paths to the same Divinity, I feel kinship with my Hindu brothers and sisters.
In my love and laughter, joy and pain, I feel kinship with all my fellow humans.
In my need for nourishment and instinct to live on, I feel kinship with all beings on the planet.
In my spiritual ecstasy with this wondrous world, I feel kinship with the cosmic whole.
Inspired by the Parliament of World Religions & composed by Dr. V. V. Raman: at The Cape of Good Hope, SA: 1999
Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of God hath been made, and His praise glorified.
Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892) – Bahá’í Faith
We know that in all creation only the human family
Has strayed from the Sacred Way.
We know that we are the ones who are divided
And we are the ones who must come back together
To walk in the Sacred Way.
Great Father, Sacred One,
Teach us love, compassion and honour,
That we may heal the earth and heal each other.
Native American Tradition, Ojibway (Canada)
We give thanks for every faith tradition, named and unnamed, for the variety and richness of their spiritualities, for their united quest for truth, for their common dedication to the pursuit of peace, reconciliation and healing of the spirit.
Ever unite us as one community of joy, hope, love and peace.
Ever inspire us to live more genuinely and authentically, celebrating diversity…affirming unity…pursuing peace, not just for better relations among philosophies, but for a new and more just world. Amen.
(source unknown)