Interaction in a Globalized World

INTERACTION IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD another’s cultures and religions. Making concessions to one another has become a basic social need. These factors have brought people all over the world closer. Moreover, it is a psychological truth that closeness and interaction serve the purpose of practical dialogue. In this way, a natural dialogue has come into existence and has become an ongoing process at all times and in all places. Probably the most dramatic result of this historical process is that religious i ntolerance has been universally rejected in theory after a long intellectual struggle. At the theory level, religious intolerance has now been replaced with complete religious freedom. Today, under the auspices of the United Nations, all the world nations have signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This Declaration has accepted religious freedom as a natural birthright of all human beings. As opposed to practices in ancient times, today, in theory, at least, no one can persecute anyone based on religion. This change has elevated the sphere of religious differences to that of peaceful negotiation. The effects of this change can be seen in all walks of life. Every one of us, consciously or unconsciously, plays a part in making peaceful inter-religious coexistence a reality. Inter-religious dialogue becoming a part of the historical process holds great promise for us, as in this way, its success is assured. This is how every great revolution in history has got underway. Whenever a movement goes beyond the stage of individual or group efforts and joins the historical process itself, the continuity of the movement is ensured, and nothing can stop it from reaching its goal.