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26 January 2017, 14:05Interreligious dialogue in Russia is example of common understanding of threats to traditional values - Patriarch Kirill
Moscow, January 26, Interfax - Dialogue between representatives of the main religions of Russia is an example of mutual respect and a joint search for mechanisms to protect traditional values, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said.
"The leaders of world religions are looking to give a good and convincing answer [to global challenges], showing an example of mutually respectful dialogue and a joint search for mechanisms to protect traditional values. I would like to again thank my brothers, leaders and representatives of the traditional religions of Russia for such an example set to us by interreligious dialogue in Russia," the patriarch said at the Christmas Parliamentary Readings in the State Duma on Thursday.
Participants in the inter-religious dialogue in Russia continue to hold their religious positions, "but the common understanding of the threats to traditional values helps unite to jointly resist evil," he said.
The patriarch called "the entry by openly anti-religious, radical politics of the sphere of personal and family morals" one of the main challenges to contemporary society. He said he believes that it "may lead to degradation of society and is capable of causing catastrophic consequences."
"The principle of dependence of public life on the dictate of various minorities, which is popular in some countries, leads to the value disorientation of many people, the adoption of morally doubtful or asocial models of behavior," the patriarch said.
The cult of consumption, which is based on a wish to maximize pleasure, changes people beyond recognition, "turning God's image and likeness into a soulless mechanism to fight for material things and services," he said.
"And the most horrible thing happens when this cult enters the sphere of living human feelings, such as, for example, love or friendship, and it brings to these high feelings a consumerist attitude based on the principle "you give to me and I give to you," and if there is no such exchange then there is no love, no friendship," Patriarch Kirill said. |
