On Being Human: The Most Pressing Principle for Peaceful Coexistence
Abstract
Human relations gain to be framed through the lenses of what makes us human and humane. Differences in life’s choices need not make us loose our deep human solidarity in the endeavor to save lives, promote health and healing including relational healing. Our world has gone through long lasting traumas of wars, genocides, persecutions of dissenting voices or lifestyles. Freedom has been an aspiration to materialize anywhere in the world. To work through irreconcilable differences of beliefs and opinions needs adoption of the principle of the dignity of difference without resorting to violence of any kind. Peaceful persuasion can become part of our modus operandi. It is the only one compatible with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, Jesus embodied in all His dealings with human beings. Polarizations are features of our age of human rights, search for equality in all dignity. Reckoning with our collective past of dominations, from empire building to personal internalized dominance adopted by would be and self-conceived superior individuals make human relations toxic and harmful are currently global.
Seventh-day Adventist voices are needed today for the healing of human relations, based on one humanity, all related through being created in the image of God, sacred temples of the Holy Spirit. Every violation of people’s intellectual, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social integrity is an assault against God.
The question becomes the following: How can we display virtues of peace making and sustained peace building without compromising the church’s voted statements on issues that are polarizing members into contentious factions and camps. It is possible through faithfulness to God’s self-revelation in Christ and in Scripture. In the process, the moral imperative of non-violence should be always adopted and practiced to make our world a better place for all in the hope of the best world to come, the everlasting kingdom of Christ.
Biography
Dr. Ganoune Diop, PhD, is the Director of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department (PARL) at the Seventh-day Adventist Church world headquarters. He is also the Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association. Dr. Diop was the Permanent Representative of the SDA Church at the United Nations in New York and Geneva. He is currently secretary of the Conference of General Secretaries of the Christian World Communions. Dr. Diop extensively works to foster mutual understanding between Christian faith traditions and other world religions and philosophies. He regularly trains leaders in capacity building in reference to peace, justice, and human rights; the pillars of the United Nations.
He was granted a doctorate Honoris Causa for his work in helping promote a culture of human rights grounded on human dignity. He is executive editor of Religious Freedom World Report and executive editor of Fides et Libertas. Dr. Diop is graced with a fascinating combination of gifts and expertise in Biblical Exegesis and Theology, Philology with an emphasis on Ancient Near East languages, and Comparative World Religions and Philosophies. He earned a master’s degree in Philology at the School of Languages and Civilizations of the Ancient Near East in Paris. He earned a diploma in New Testament In-depth Studies with a focus on Apocalyptic Literature at the Catholic University of Paris. He completed postgraduate studies in Semiotics Studies and applied Linguistics at the University of Sorbonne, Paris. He graduated from Andrews University with a PhD in Old Testament Studies in 1995. Dr. Diop is an ordained Seventh-day Adventist pastor and teacher. He pastored in Paris, and Lille, France. He taught at Saleve University in France, Southern Adventist University in Tennessee USA and Oakwood University, USA.
Location
Howard Performing Arts Center
Start Date
8-19-2022 9:00 AM
End Date
8-19-2022 10:10 AM
On Being Human: The Most Pressing Principle for Peaceful Coexistence
Howard Performing Arts Center
Human relations gain to be framed through the lenses of what makes us human and humane. Differences in life’s choices need not make us loose our deep human solidarity in the endeavor to save lives, promote health and healing including relational healing. Our world has gone through long lasting traumas of wars, genocides, persecutions of dissenting voices or lifestyles. Freedom has been an aspiration to materialize anywhere in the world. To work through irreconcilable differences of beliefs and opinions needs adoption of the principle of the dignity of difference without resorting to violence of any kind. Peaceful persuasion can become part of our modus operandi. It is the only one compatible with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, Jesus embodied in all His dealings with human beings. Polarizations are features of our age of human rights, search for equality in all dignity. Reckoning with our collective past of dominations, from empire building to personal internalized dominance adopted by would be and self-conceived superior individuals make human relations toxic and harmful are currently global.
Seventh-day Adventist voices are needed today for the healing of human relations, based on one humanity, all related through being created in the image of God, sacred temples of the Holy Spirit. Every violation of people’s intellectual, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social integrity is an assault against God.
The question becomes the following: How can we display virtues of peace making and sustained peace building without compromising the church’s voted statements on issues that are polarizing members into contentious factions and camps. It is possible through faithfulness to God’s self-revelation in Christ and in Scripture. In the process, the moral imperative of non-violence should be always adopted and practiced to make our world a better place for all in the hope of the best world to come, the everlasting kingdom of Christ.