Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue: Building Trust Among Future Communities

Main goals of the conference

1. This conference aims to discuss the progressive role that religion and interreligious dialogue can play in building trust among future communities.
2. It provides a platform for scholars, policymakers, civil society and faith-based organisations to deliberate the use of interreligious dialogue as a policy tool for building trust within diplomatic negotiations, in state-society relations, as well as among different cultures.
3. It brings perspectives from interpretations of different religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism) to enrich the dialogue on the theme of building trust in relationships.

Conference Theme

Trust is a necessary element for advancing bilateral and multilateral relationships, including long-distance trade, and partnerships for social and environmental development; providing shared responses to crises and preserving global peace. Throughout human history, people have continuously created and recreated trust relationships within and outside of their communities. A trust relationship is built when people feel confident that others will not abuse their own long-term valued beliefs, possessions and resources. Reliance on and confidence in other people emerge not only when we learn to eradicate our prejudices against their differences, but also when we are consistent and transparent in our actions that aim for mutual understanding, consensus and reconciliation.

In these times of anxiety and uncertainty, in which we experience rising levels of populism, polarization and extremism on one side, and increasing levels of religiosity on the other, it is important to highlight the pivotal ways that faith-based organisations and spiritual leaders can help in renewing trust in intercultural and diplomatic relations. On the other hand, it is essential to explore the instruments that civil society activists can use to build trust in state-society relations in cooperation with religious actors and organisations.

The theme addressed in the first panel is the role that religious actors can play in building trust across different cultures within society. By examining this theme, the panel takes into consideration religious actors’ relationships to other stakeholders and their own religious communities. The second panel focuses on the joint role of civil society and religious organisations in building trust in state-society relations and presents potential action plans that can be developed between state institutions, civil society and religious groups to increase citizens’ participation in decision-making processes. The third panel addresses the question of trust in diplomatic relations. It examines the mechanisms through which different faiths and interfaith dialogue can insert trust into diplomatic negotiations. 

COVID Rules

Please keep in mind, that due to the current health measures, participation is only possible after proving a non-infectious state of health:
- 14 days after the second dose of vaccination / single-dose regimen for at least 14 days
- negative antigen test, not older than 24 hours
- negative PCR test, not older than 72 hours
- Passage of covid-19 disease, laboratory confirmation not older than 180 days
 
Attention - self-tests and affidavits are not sufficient.
Guests are requested to wear respiratory protective equipment (FFP2 or KN95 respirator) throughout the event. Thank you in advance for respecting all necessary rules and we look forward to seeing you. 

To participate in person, please register below. Registration for online participants is not required.

The program is subject to change.