KEY TAKEAWAYS
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Diversity is a 21st-century reality, as people and faiths are intermixing as never before. Fear of the religious “other” leads to divisions, hostility, instability and violence impacting people and places. Consequently, it is essential to recognize how sacred spaces can also serve as powerful catalysts for peace and understanding rather than focal points for conflict. While the news often emphasizes violence and destruction, there are inspiring examples of sacred sites fostering inclusion and dialogue.
Throughout history, the destruction of sacred sites has been a tool of warfare. This tragic pattern has continued into modern times, exemplified by the actions of groups like ISIS, which systematically destroyed religious and cultural landmarks in Iraq and Syria. But such actions are not limited to terrorists; Russia has targeted churches and museums in Ukraine as part of its strategy to destroy the Ukrainian nation. These attacks aim to demoralize a community, asserting dominance over rival groups while erasing the cultural identity tied to those sacred sites.
In many conflict zones, sacred sites become focal points for tension and violence, often representing a broader struggle for power and identity. International law explicitly prohibits the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage. Yet, outside of conflict zones, politicians have abused sacred sites to promote their agenda. In both, communities are deprived of their spiritual and historical connections, which hinders future peacemaking.
The U.S Institute of Peace (USIP) has recognized the potential of sacred sites to promote peaceful pluralism, fostering research on what we call the Sacred Sites for Peaceful Pluralism (SSPP) framework. Through our exploration, we have observed three commonalities stretching across different nations and cultures: Every community has a history of diversity of some kind; every community is grappling with how to live together in pluralistic societies; and every community has sacred sites that can promote pluralism. Our research explores the inherent power of these spaces to foster peacebuilding and mutual respect and how to leverage them in our increasingly globalized world marked by rising religious persecution and hate.
Often overlooked, sacred sites can build bridges from the past to a brighter future tomorrow.
The SSPP framework promotes peaceful pluralism and respect for others’ beliefs through sacred sites in a locally acceptable, flexible and sustainable way. How? By emphasizing how sacred sites can provide an Indigenous inflection point to discuss respecting diversity, others’ beliefs and their holy places through their stories of diversity. Sacred sites represent cultural heritage, connect to the past, as well as serve as contemporary places of worship, pilgrimage and gathering. In other words, sacred sites can represent past and/or present civilizations and cultures. But the essential part is that sacred sites embody conceptions of the divine. Often overlooked, sacred sites can build bridges from the past to a brighter future tomorrow.
Two such notable examples are Coventry Cathedral in the United Kingdom and the Abrahamic Family House in the United Arab Emirates, as both embody a hopeful vision for interfaith collaboration.
Coventry Cathedral, located in the English Midlands, can trace worship on its site back to 700 AD. During World War II, the cathedral was tragically destroyed in 1940 during the Blitz, leaving nothing but a shell of the once grand house of worship. However, the community decided to physically and spiritually rebuild itself into a symbol of peace, leaving the remaining structure standing while building a new cathedral on the same campus. In the years after the war, Coventry Cathedral became a center of community engagement and Christian worship in the United Kingdom.
Coventry Cathedral’s location provides a unique place to explore how sacred sites promote pluralism. The city of Coventry is located in the West Midlands region, the second most populous region in the United Kingdom after Greater London, with Birmingham the largest city. West Midlands has incredible religious diversity, with significant populations identifying with Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and no faith. Intercommunal tensions between the Muslim and Jewish communities have increased due to the fighting in Israel and Gaza. In addition, Coventry sits near the border of the East Midlands region. In August and September 2022, East Midlands experienced a period of religious and ethnic tension between predominantly British Hindus and British Muslims of South Asian origin.
Coventry’s community art program, held within the restored walls of the cathedral, provides an example of how the church is promoting peaceful pluralism. The Rev. Mary Gregory, canon for arts and reconciliation, explained how the history of Coventry Cathedral’s destruction during World War II provides a physical reminder of reconciliation and engagement. Gregory is building on the cathedral’s rich heritage of working for reconciliation, weaving this strand of ministry more closely with the cathedral’s arts offering to develop creative peacebuilding opportunities. She said the community art program “can reveal common ground between people; [it] can reveal feelings that allow us to better understand others and break through walls.” Cultural heritage, as an expression of the artistic traditions of the past, can evoke reflection and understanding today.
The cathedral’s historic role as a center of interfaith engagement and reconciliation for the region’s diverse community demonstrates one approach to this work. Another is the Abrahamic Family House, a new site working toward similar goals.
Officially opened in February 2023 on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, the Abrahamic Family House brings together a mosque, a church and a synagogue within a single complex, symbolizing a commitment to peaceful coexistence among the three Abrahamic faiths — Islam, Christianity and Judaism. This unique arrangement allows congregations to share a space dedicated to dialogue and community building, and even a parking lot. The Abrahamic Family House serves as a place of worship and a vibrant hub for social engagement and personal growth.
During a recent presentation hosted by USIP, Abdulla Al-Shehhi, the acting executive director of the Abrahamic Family House, articulated the project’s underlying philosophy. He emphasized the UAE’s dedication to fostering dialogue amid its rich tapestry of religious and cultural diversity. The Abrahamic Family House’s mission revolves around cultivating interfaith dialogue, mutual understanding and acceptance — critical components in a world rife with division and intolerance. By creating a space that celebrates interfaith tolerance and diversity, the Abrahamic Family House encourages individuals to recognize their shared humanity, bridging divides that often lead to conflict.
The Abrahamic Family House employs a multifaceted approach to promote harmony through sacred spaces. This includes educational programming, community initiatives and interfaith work to enhance understanding across cultures and beliefs. From workshops that teach empathy and emotional intelligence to art classes that encourage self-expression, these initiatives aim to foster a sense of community grounded in respect and trust. The Abrahamic Family House provides a notable example of how sacred sites can promote peaceful coexistence among different faiths.
In considering these examples, as communities navigate the complexities of modern pluralism, they should work to harness the potential of sacred spaces to foster understanding and promote peace across cultural and religious divides. By nurturing these environments of respect and collaboration, sacred sites can become places of inclusion and not exclusion that contribute to a more peaceful world. Emphasizing interfaith dialogue and mutual respect through a community’s sacred sites can create a locally owned counternarrative to the violence and destruction often associated with religious conflict.
Sacred sites can become places of inclusion and not exclusion that contribute to a more peaceful world.
Overall, while the SSPP framework cannot solve everything, it offers a customizable approach underscoring local histories to address contemporary problems with their stories. By showcasing the historical significance of religious pluralism, the SSPP framework emphasizes the synergies that exist at the intersection of human rights, interfaith engagement and cultural heritage preservation. It doesn’t point or lecture but listens and learns; this flexibility and interdisciplinary approach promises greater impact, durability and longevity. Sacred sites, while often divisive, can spark constructive conversations that provide an opportunity for inclusive cooperation.
Around the world, sacred heritage sites tell of a diverse but forgotten past. They demonstrate a history of living together despite profound differences. Leveraging the power of sacred sites could be the missing piece of the puzzle to promote peaceful pluralism in a sustainable, durable and positive way.