NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Pave the Way Foundation (PTWF), a New-York-based international nonsectarian organization committed to ending the illegal use of religion, sent a letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, requesting that the UN take action to truly address the source of religious violence and terrorism.
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Despite efforts of police and military forces across the globe, religious violence is at an all-time high. A recent Pew Research study, January 2014, found that 33% of the 198 countries in the study had high religious hostilities in 2012, up from 29% in 2011 and 20% in 2007. The study also reported that religious hostilities are on the rise in every major region of the world except the Americas.
"True religions of the world do not support or incite violence," says Gary Krupp, PTWF Founder. "When religion is used to justify murder, as is happening every day in our world, this is a matter of specific individuals and groups using religion to exploit the religious faithful, and forward their own private agendas."
In response to this issue and to lead the world toward a true solution to peace, Pave the Way Foundation has requested that the United Nations establish a council of religious authorities. This is an effective path to counter the false religious teachings by some who pervert religion to serve illegitimate purposes.
Chairman of PTWF, Elliot Hershberg, states in the letter, "Although it has been 'politically correct' to separate religion from governmental activities, and to consider international religious leaders irrelevant, the reality is that political leaders are incapable of responding to religiously justified violence. It is essential that the United Nations recognizes and acts upon this reality."
PTWF recently sent a letter to all UN delegates asking that police and military be immediately dispatched to protect the victims of religiously inspired violence. The letter further suggests that when national order cannot be restored, all civilized nations provide immediate sanctuary for refugees who flee acts of terrorism. Read the letter in PTWF Foundation's newsletter, Gestures.
About Pave the Way Foundation
PTWF is a nonsectarian public foundation whose mission is to identify and work to resolve obstacles between religions. We achieve our goals through cultural, educational and technological gestures between the faiths. Our mission is to ultimately remove the use of religion as a tool to justify violence, murder, and war. http://ptwf.org
Contact:
Doyle Mills
727-871-0970