Faith in Ukraine: Shared values and solidarity
Faith in Ukraine: Shared values and solidarity
The war in Ukraine violates higher values such as health and freedom. Faith leaders from across the world will be visiting the country on April 12th to demonstrate friendship and solidarity.
Higher values
People across the world share similar values. From Ukraine and Russia to the EU/UK and worldwide, five values are seen as most important: health (63%), caring (63%), freedom, (60%), friendship (60%), and wisdom (57%).[1]
It is not a surprise that war directly violates these higher values. With freedom and health directly collapsing, the war in Ukraine inflicts harm and destruction upon the people of Ukraine, but also violates the other values held dearest by them and by people around the world.[2]
The meaning of life
The results above are from research by Glocalities in collaboration with the Elijah Interfaith Insitute and Peace Department. In their research report, they also find how people who feel that their world is falling apart more often say to feel alone (59% compared to 17% of the rest of the population) and are more likely to experience negative emotions. At the same time, they wonder more often about the meaning of life (68% compared to 32% of the rest of the population) and aim for reaching higher levels of consciousness (56% compared to 38% of the rest of the population).[3]
Faith leaders visiting Ukraine
Therefore, refugees not only need material support, but also moral, psychological, and spiritual support to offer meaning and hope. That is why on April 12th, faith leaders from around the world are visiting Ukraine to demonstrate friendship and solidarity with those impacted by the war. They will visit various sites in the Chernivtsi region to offer comfort and share experiences of maintaining spiritual wellbeing under distressing circumstances. As part of the visit, an event will be held where the faith leaders will address refugees and other citizens impacted by war. This event can be accessed via live video streaming here.[4]
Visiting leaders include Archbishop Rowan Williams (Anglican, UK), Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg (Jewish, UK), Grand Mufti (Emeritus) Mustafa Ceric (Muslim, Bosnia), Archbishop Nikitas Lulias (Orthodox Archbishop of the UK), Grand Imam Yahya Pallavacini (Muslim, Italy), Br. Massimo Fusarelli (Catholic Minister General, Franciscan Order of Friars, Italy), Swami Sarvapriyananda (Hindu, India/USA), Abbess Sister Giác Nghiêm, (Buddhist, France), and many others. Together, they aim to show that there is a time when the world’s religious and wisdom traditions can be supportive and comforting.[5]
This article was written in collaboration with Glocalities.
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Sources
[1] War divides. But the people from Ukraine, Russia, EU/UK and beyond share higher values
[2] War divides. But the people from Ukraine, Russia, EU/UK and beyond share higher values
[3] War divides. But the people from Ukraine, Russia, EU/UK and beyond share higher values
[5] War divides. But the people from Ukraine, Russia, EU/UK and beyond share higher values
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