The rational-choice theory that has been so popular up until now suggests that, given the right incentives and punishments, human beings and thus human societies will make rational choices. And yet, clearly, that has not been the case. War is not rational; violence is not rational; exploitative business practices are not rational; corruption is not rational.

Programs like Global Peace Volunteers, run by the Global Peace Foundation, engage youth in discovering shared values that span cultural and religious differences through workshops and volunteer work.

These are all limited, short-sided practices that result from a fundamental misperception of who we are and the ways of the universe. With this understanding, we seek a more holistic way of addressing the problems of human society through first establishing the common aspiration by which we can live, work, and organize society and its multiple sectors as One Family Under God.

The shootings at Garissa University in Kenya by a highly educated, privileged person suggest that it is not access to power, jobs or poverty that drive some to act in largely incomprehensible ways. Many – if not most – leaders of radical groups come from educated, privileged backgrounds. The many volunteers who travel at great risk to join the Islamic State from the developed nations are not simply underprivileged youth looking for jobs.

Certainly, poverty-stricken populations are very vulnerable to radicalization but perhaps it has more to do with its appeal as a way to achieve meaning and purpose in life, an inflated sense of power and a way to express one’s rage and frustration; humiliation of the human spirit. The proper response to this sort of spiritual violence is not found in political or economic solutions but spiritual ones. Perhaps understanding the spiritual principles involved allows us to create better political and economic policies and practices, but it does not work the other way around.

In short, political and economic incentives may affect human behavior on one level, but at the deepest level, we are driven by our most deeply held values. Values that are rooted in our spiritual faith, values that are rooted in the family, drive us in our choices, attitudes and behaviors at a level that goes much deeper than rational thought. It is the core of who we are; knowing this, the vision of One Family Under God “cuts to the core” by asserting our immutable, spiritual identity as the framework from which we can reform our social, political, economic cultures.

This approach seeks to change our perception of each other and ourselves as the first and most fundamental basis for change. It becomes the touchstone for all our other endeavors. It creates the basis for changing the way we do business, how political parties function, the way we educate our children, engage in service; the way we live our lives. This vision and approach are at the core of the vision of One Family Under God, and therefore is the basis for engaging multisectoral partners.

The vision, principles and values put forth in One Family Under God have been preserved and passed down through the ages of human history. People of faith resonate with the vision because it’s already familiar to them; its part of what they study and teach and communicate to their communities.  The unique value-add of we must take in an interfaith approach is to bring focus to the universal principles espoused by faith traditions and implicit in the vision, and stressing the vital common mission of faith leaders to promote the greater good in civil society.

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon at the Global Peace Festival Kenya in 2010 addressing members of 1% for Change, a student leadership organization that encourages students to contribute their time, skills and resources to address community issues.

As a central aspect of our initiatives in East Africa, we are proposing a focused engagement between spiritual leaders and the youth organizations, because youth are looking for “meaning and motivation” and grappling with fundamental questions about life and reality.  We need to provide opportunities to learn from, question and connect with those whose life work is rooted in these issues.  Ultimately our approach maintains that identity based conflict must be addressed at its roots, through recognition of our shared identity as part of the human family under God.

In shaping a new future in the era of globalization, youth of today can embrace our common human heritage, and can build cohesion in our diverse and pluralistic world through shared values as one family under God.  But they also need to connect with the wisdom of the past to make good choices for the future; the current trend of encouraging youth to “be who they want to be” or “take the lead” may lead to very dangerous consequences if they are not rooted in principles and values or the sense of a greater good!

Fundamentally, spiritual leaders have moral authority, distinct from power in that it is recognized from without rather than imposed by the person himself/herself. And rather than imposing desired behaviors through force or incentives, sparking the truth in others and helping them see a bigger picture and a greater dream of the future creates owners who will develop that vision in ways we could never imagine.

The world is now coming to recognize the problems caused by the poverty of the human spirit in the wake of secularization and globalization, but still struggles to reconcile the competing truth claims by the world’s religions. The One Family Under God vision and approach to interfaith balances these by working to articulate universal principles to create an ethical framework and create a consensus on shared values from which we can live and work together beyond perceived identities.

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In the Guardian’s religion section, renowned author, Karen Armstrong, debunks the myth that politics and religion should never mix. Her thesis would seem to be a daring one, especially amidst the growing threat of extremist groups around the world.

Yet for Armstrong, the claim is less about “should” or “should not” but a re-orientation with the idea of religion itself. She observes that, “before the modern period, religion was not a separate activity, it permeated all human undertakings” and that even today many cultures have no equivalent to the English word “religion”.

For many, in history and into the present, it is simply unimaginable to separate out the way one lives from one’s understanding of the Ultimate Reality. To do so would run the risk of living contrary to the way we are meant to live. Herein lies the rationale of something that so many dismiss as irrational. When viewed from this perspective, we might see how religions are meant to bring peace – within one’s self, one’s family and then greater society.

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon speaks at the National Faith Leaders Summit at Capitol Hill in 2011. He pointed to the essential role of faith leaders in the public square.

And yet we have rarely, if ever, seen peace in human history.

Many claim that religion is the cause of this – the cause of violence, exploitation and a long list of other abhorrent behaviors. Yet blaming religion itself is to let the believer off the hook. It suggests that believers are helpless and hapless to our past, present and future. It means that we are not free, nor are we responsible for what we do. But great people in history, from spiritual leaders, artistic and cultural giants of every civilization and the social and scientific innovators of our own time, have shown us that we are only limited by our own concepts of what we think we can be.

We need to begin to see religions for what they are and what they mean to the way we live our lives. There are points of deep connections in and between all faiths. When we engage in interfaith dialogue, we are able to articulate universal truths and shared values that connect us to the Divine across civilizations, cultures, and constructed identities.

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Bishop Sunday adds his signature to the Abuja Declaration signed by international delegates from over 20 nations pledging to “Create a strategic platform to promote universal principles for peacebuilding and our shared values as One Family under God.”

Since last year, the Global Peace Foundation has been working in Nigeria to counter the effects of religious extremism through promoting interfaith cooperation for peace and development. In November, a pivotal conference was held in Abuja where Christian and Muslim leaders and traditional rulers came together to build consensus on shared values and commit to working to tackle issues of identity-based conflict, poverty and education.

Now, more than ever, the role of true men and women of faith is needed to counter the hate and hurt propagated along religious differences and build a model of national and religious unity that can resound through the entire region.

Below is an excerpt from the address delivered by Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, Founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation at the Global Peace Leadership Conference in Abuja, Nigeria.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am a man of faith and I believe that God’s Providence is calling faith leaders to be the peacemakers in this age.

The threat of religious extremism cannot be resolved by political or economic solutions alone. A true and lasting resolution must be rooted in faith and expressed through practical spirituality.

To that end, faith leaders must step beyond the confines of their own sectarian or denominational traditions, and act together as true spiritual leaders, representing God’s hope for the world, not just the interests of a particular religion.

Such a movement will raise humanity to a new level of understanding of the ways of peace and reconciliation, establishing new norms that become the foundation of a new global ethic.

Nigeria stands on the frontline of the dangerous division within the Abrahamic tradition, between Islam and Christianity.

Abraham was blessed and his descendants after him, because of his faith and devotion in one God. How ironic that today many of the heirs of that tradition, whether it be with the Christian or Muslim, who accuse each other of worshiping different gods.People of faith need to step back and reflect deeply on the true meaning of the original message taught by their founders.

None of the great faith traditions teaches division, domination, and conflict, though all of them have been distorted to promote such things at times. Jesus taught, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” What higher honor could there be than that? In Islam, the very words of greeting, “As salamu alykum,” mean “peace be upon you,” and the word “Islam” itself has its roots in words meaning peace, and wholeness.

We who inherit traditions must be true to the ideal of peace under God expressed at the heart of their teachings, heal division, and bring the family of Abraham to become one.The challenge is global in scope as Christianity and Islam face each other in tense and sometimes violent relationships in many different parts of the world…

The threat that this represents is extreme and can only be countered by true spiritual leaders, true men and women of God, stepping beyond the boundaries of their own traditions, to work in common cause with those of other faith traditions, while each drawing on the deep strength and original vision of their own tradition.

This is truly carrying out the work of God, creating a world where all live as members of One Family under God, that can find peace, security and prosperity. Such a movement will transform Nigeria, and its effects will ripple out across the region, throughout the continent, into the Middle East, until it ultimately encompasses the world.

Within Nigeria itself, the impact of a powerfully active movement of cooperation among faiths will not only erode the influence of religious radicalism, but will also address ethnic and tribal divisions. It can also be a powerful force against corruption, by speaking out for the highest standards of public service and promoting and protecting those ready to uphold them. Such a faith movement can also tackle poverty, health, education, and other social needs.

Go here for the full speech.

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