Sociology of International Day of Human Fraternity
In the sociology of religion, sociologists do not attempt to prove which beliefs or practices are valid or invalid but many discuss the role of religion in human society. So let’s explore the sociology of International Day of Human Fraternity.
This perspective of religion as a structure is what differentiates sociology from philosophy and theology. If we view the world from this “big picture” sociological perspective we can realize that all religions serve a similar role to us as individuals. This is one basic premise of tolerance and a reason why International Day of Human Fraternity is worth celebrating. The essence of this international celebration occasioned every February 4th is schemed to expressly point the importance of religious and cultural tolerance.
Religion, War, and History
The chronicles and aftermath of some wars in human history, triggered by religious and cultural conflict, is a pointer to the atrocities that have been caused against global peace because of the lack of tolerance among the diversities of beliefs. These wars, about 10% from all documented wars, have affected people, places, businesses and peaceful co-existence.
The Israeli-Palestian conflict, the Syrian civil war and the wars in Afghanistan, triggered by religious dispute have shown that the importance for this international call for human brotherhood is due to be addressed globally.
Indisputably, human societies have grown beyond the act of religious domination over the other, because there are multi-countless beliefs and cultural heritages, which people can be willing to identify with or not. Remembering also previous intolerance samples like the battle against the henotheists and polytheists, and like the war as recorded in Hunayn and Maccaare are events that show that lack of brotherhood can be dated back.
War is despotic but conflicts pursued for dominance in the name of each man’s belief or cultural belonging is more unacceptable.
Fraternity in our Society
Fraternity meaning brotherhood is a genuine call for religion to cultural tolerance in all human societies, which should raise concern against the pathos of social conflicts and also the trails of unwillingness that does not permit understanding that people have a fundamental right to associate and disassociate.
Beginning in the year 2021, the United Nations’ General Assembly has adopted to observe International Day for Human Fraternity yearly to address the upsurge of discriminations happening within human societies. In the precise words of the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirate to the United Nation, he said “the world has been witnessing a dramatic increase in violence, hate speech, xenophobia, religious bigotry … (that)…. In the face of such transnational threats, we need to support initiatives that encourage solidarity and unity among people in the spirit of human fraternity.’’
A Global Perspective
Of this new introduction and to the effect of this event happening globally, an historic document signed by Pope Francis of the Catholic Church and Al Azhar’s Grand Imam, Ahmad Al-Trayyib on the 4th of February 2019 became a major propellant for the international resolution. The document, both signed, was themed on World Peace and Living Together.
As sociology would objectively put, ‘human societies should exist on the advancement of the culture of mutual respect’ because positive peace is what every stratum of the human societies deserves and needs.
Emphasis should be laid always on tolerance and peace and freedom.
Since human fraternity is all about peace building, it must be applied every day.
International Day of Human Fraternity and Global Peace
In the United Arab Emirates, there are lined up events to commemorate the inaugural ceremony. The Ministry of Education in UAE has decided to mark the new United Nations resolution by including human fraternity lessons in the Moral Education subject in schools.
A fraternity little champion program, so also a forum for discussing the mechanisms of promoting human fraternity among youths and in governmental work are part of the scheduled activities set for the inaugural commemoration of the Day. Including that the five-day festival, being virtual would gather technocrats in and around Arab to extensively discuss how peaceful social coexistence can be harnessed.
In addition, meeting with the Moroccan people, civil societies, diplomatic corps and the institutional authorities of Morocco, in an address by Pope Francis in March 30th 2019 he discussed that genuine dialogue is one ‘way to halt the misuse of religion to incite violence, hatred, extremism and blind fanaticism’ – as said according to the ‘Document on Human Fraternity’ signed a month, earlier to the visit to Morocco.
The religious conflict in Central African Republic; with increasing violence between Muslim fighters and the anti-balaka (Christian militias) is another devastating example, originating from the break in peaceful co-existence. The instability of peace, resulted from religion-clashes in this region have affected over 250,000 lives, disposing family relatives and homes, breaking down the supremacy of law, enhancing the high-handiness of rape and looting. All of which are antics for social abnormalities.
Final Thoughts on International Day of Human Fraternity
All human societies should function with resilience, and toughness to allow the dynamics of human multi-existing beliefs. The human race should have an acquiescence to permit people with unlike differences and similarities. The harmony in living in a nonaggressive, anti-militaristic society is topnotch and should be quested by all beings and solicited across governments.
Indeed, human fraternity is a positive solidarity call to better understanding. Its commemoration henceforth is orderly for social consonance. Happy International Day of Human Fraternity!
