'Religions and nations should encourage religious pluralism'

World needed to work on religious pluralism, acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed stated in Nevada (USA).

Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that lot of work was being done in this direction but still lot more needed to be done. World religious leaders should come out and join hands to chalk out a universal roadmap to freedom of thought and religion and respect for each other's traditions.

Citing from recently issued International Religious Freedom Report 2008 by Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Zed said that in this 21st century world, it was sad to note that there were still instances of regimes seeking to control religious thought/expression, state hostility toward minority religions, state failing to address intolerance, discriminatory legislation to favour majority religions, discriminatory practice against certain religions in some countries.

But it was uplifting to learn that some nations were making efforts to promote dialogue, conducive environment to promote religious coexistence, and tolerance, Zed added.

Zed applauded the remarks of His All Holiness Archbishop Bartholomew, Patriarch of Orthodox Christian Church, who while addressing the European Parliament recently, spoke of promoting peace, tolerance, and the importance of accepting minorities, and said, “We are all brothers and sisters on this beautiful planet” and “there is room for everyone.”

Rajan Zed pointed out that world religions and nations should promote mutual, peaceful, harmonious and productive co-existence, actively engaging in inter-religious dialogue. For bridge building, we needed to undertake constructive dialogue. World needed deeper, more inclusive, and broader understanding of religion, which was a complex element of human life and was very powerful and must be taken seriously.

We are all searching for the truth in different ways and should work on establishing a significant common ground to achieve agreed upon mutually desirable goals, Zed says.