Background Context: Religion, Values, and the Pursuit of Peace

Religion has historically played a significant role in promoting core values, human cooperation, and mutual understanding. Across cultures and civilisations, religious traditions have contributed to moral frameworks that support social harmony and collective well-being.

In today’s increasingly secular societies, however, religious voices and experiences are often marginalised. The concept of secularism has, in many cases, pushed religion into the private sphere, leading to the perception that it is exclusive or irrelevant to public life. At the same time, academic and philosophical theories—often grounded in materialist worldviews—have taken a leading role in defining human nature and social values.

While these secular frameworks provide valuable insights, they may also overlook the moral, spiritual, and transcendent dimensions that religious perspectives uniquely offer.

This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for religious communities. If they can come together around a shared set of core values, religion can play a more active and inclusive role in public discourse, offering ethical foundations that support a more just, peaceful, and cooperative society.

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