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 Putin calls for inter-religion dialogue
Moscow, July 3, IRNA

Russia-Conference on Religions
President Vladimir Putin on Monday called for an inter-religion dialogue as a counterbalance to extremism that uses the feelings of believers.

Speaking at a world summit of religious leaders that opened in Moscow, the president also stressed the need to bridge the gap in views of people who advocate different religious traditions.

"We can all see where sell-styled evangelical activities of some extremist leaders, who cynically use the feelings of believers. We can see how thin is the line beyond which a war and violence can begin and blood can spill," the president said quoted by Itar-Tass.

"We must respond to this with the broadest possible
inter-religious dialogue," he added.

Putin said different peoples have different legal and political customs due to their religious and cultural traditions.

"It is important to begin constructive work on bridging the gap in our positions," he said.

On bridging the gap in our positions," he said, "Its purpose may not be mechanical and thoughtless unification and often dumb standardization. The purpose of this work should be harmonizing while preserving the broad diversity of the world," the president said.

Putin praised the role played by religious leaders in the consolidation of nations. But the modern world is facing new threats.

"Attempts are made to split it along religious or ethnic lines and drive a wedge, primarily between the Christian and Islamic communities," the president said.

"A conflict of civilizations is basically being imposed upon the world, and we must be fully aware of the catastrophic consequences such confrontation may lead to," he said.

He expressed hope that the forum will address not only theological issues but also topical problems.

"The most acute one is how to respond to international terrorism and extremism, the roots of which are in intolerance to people of different views and disrespect for their traditions," he said.

Putin said the mission of the clergy, which protects people from attempts to manipulate their faith, is very important in modern society.

"The ideologists of terror base their speculations not only on acute social problems but also on religious illiteracy, separatist and nationalistic feelings," the president said.

"A person, especially a young one, who does not know the basics of religious culture becomes vulnerable to dangerous extremist trends, and moral degradation in society is largely the cause of Xenophobia and racial strife," he said.

"This is why the mission of the clergy, who help people tell true faith from attempts to manipulate it, is so important," Putin said.

He called for an inter-religious dialogue as a counterbalance to extremism that uses the feelings of believers.

The president also stressed the need to bridge the gap in views of people who advocate different religious traditions.

Putin calls for inter-religion dialogue (http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0607035081200231.htm)