Southeast Asian delegates highlight topics such as pedagogy, the concept of tawhid or unity of knowledge and human nobility
D. Khairudin Aljunied from Singapore, Dr. Alizaman Gamon from Malaysia and Mrs. Desytia Nawris from Indonesia, each shared their insights and perspectives on promoting and advancing peace, especially in challenging times in a session titled, “How Do We Pursue Human Dignity, Peace and Justice in Times of Upheaval?” Aljunied echoed the words of Martin Luther King Jr. when he said by writing a book, individuals can change the world. “We are in a dangerous world but not in a world that we cannot fix,” he continued. Fixing the world means changing the minds of people, Aljunied said. “It should begin with us,” he added.
Pedagogy of what it means to be a human
“The world we are in today is characterized by upheavals that are unprecedented in world history,”Aljunied said. He emphasized the impact of the catastrophic world wars killing more than 19 million people, and how the wars should have reminded individuals they are part of a collective humanity and they ought to behave. “The current crisis in other countries indicates they have not progressed significantly in terms of achieving world peace,” Aljunied added.
Aljunied said understanding peace starts with understanding the pedagogy of what it means to be a human. “In truth [right now], we are giving in to dehumanization where we are depicting and teaching individuals and groups that others are less than beings,” he said. Dehumanization justifies negative behavior, which can lead to reluctance in engaging in productive ways, he added. To pursue human peace and justice, he said an individual must be taught in different settings through pedagogy. “It is not about training but critically educating people to be self-effective,” he added.
“Teachers, scholars, parents, community leaders and influencers must all unite in the campaign to fight dehumanization with a critical aversion,” Aljunied pointed out. He said by thinking through the world people live in today, they are able to develop their own singular visions to explain the world itself. “The new vision of the global order is what I call the Cosmopolitan World Order, where it necessitates towards diversity, emphasizing cultural commonalities, internalizing mutual operation and accepting equality,” he added.
They [individuals, communities and institutions in society] should be shaped by the spirit of oneness. We are just one human family in one common homeland.
Obstacles to advancing human dignity
“Corruption of marriage, the importance of designations of religion and the theory of mind to provide a moral compass for the youth today are just some of the obstacles to human dignity nowadays that need to be addressed,” said Alizaman Gamon, an assistant professor at the International Islamic University of Malaysia. Gamon said all these problems are in civilizations that are dealing with symptoms of deeper social and political issues. “It requires a deep understanding of the root causes,” he shared. He explained such problems will keep recurring in the social system if there are no appropriate solutions being contemplated.
“Amnesia, I believe, potentially impedes the global initiative to advance human dignity,” Gamon said. He said amnesia is the historical ignorance surrounding specific topics such as Islam and its civilization contributions. Gamon said by addressing these historical injustices in knowledge, global initiative of peace can be fostered. “Because knowledge constitutes wisdom,” he continued.
Gamon said it is inevitable to not clash with different assumptions, especially in the Muslim community. However, he explained integrating epistemologies can change the mindset of the global community. “These analyses can find common grounds to pursue a meaningful civilization and interaction,” Gamon continued.
“Justice must be used pragmatically in the real world,” Gamon said. He emphasized the value of using trans epistemic dialogue, saying the demand for justice can only succeed if proper dialogue is conducted. Gamon explained by recognizing the tawhid, or unity of knowledge, as a framework for social healing and conflict resolution, intellectuals and community leaders can be empowered.
Proof of human nobility
Desytia Nawris, representing the Baha’i International Community’s Regional Office in Jakarta, shared how to move forward in complex issues by human connectedness and interdependence through an analogy. “Considering human society as a human body with a complex system of cells and tissues, they work together to integrate harmonious perspectives,” she said. Nawris explained when a cell is egocentric, it can ruin the whole body, comparing it to a cell of cancer.
“If one is unintended in a time of trouble, hardship, prevailing disease, that is proof of nobility,” Nawris said. She explained the quote she shared is intriguing for her as she keeps reflecting what it means to pursue human dignity, peace and justice in times of upheaval. “When we look at the history from world wars, we see the manifestation of humanity’s thirst for peace and justice in the world,” she stated.
Nawris said, through her personal reflection, there is a longing from humanity towards a better future. “It is, in itself, an evidence of humanity’s inclination, human nobility is something greater than them,” she continued. However, she shared how challenges in today’s generation separate people apart instead of bringing people together. “Maybe we can look at the lens of humanity and realize we are only but the people of one human homeland– the Earth. We take and give, no matter how humble our contribution is,” Nawris shared.
“We should consider religion and science as the two systems of knowledge,” Nawris shared on how the two separate topics can contribute to the nobility of human beings. She said through learning the method of how to understand laws and processes governing physical reality of science, individuals can further understand the deepest question of human motivation and purpose.
Nawris shared values she identifies from religions, science and culture that are interdependence, unity and diversity, solidarity and mutual trust. “I think this is the building block for a stable social order,” she explained. She said there should be a new pattern of relationship that looks like the cells and tissues and organs of the human body. “It cooperates with one another,” she added.
Nawris encouraged the collaboration between three protagonists: individuals, communities and institutions in society. She said, “They should be shaped by the spirit of oneness. We are just one human family in one common homeland.”