Dalai Lama Calls for Religious Pluralism

December 9, 2003

Source: The Times of Tibet

http://www.timesoftibet.com/artman/publish/article_659.shtml

On December 9, 2003 The Times of Tibet ran an Indo-Asian News Service article that reported, "Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has urged Western countries not to consider Islam a 'militant religion' and said all conflicts should be resolved through dialogue. 'There is a perception among the Western media that Islam is militant but that is not true. All religions have the same potential for peace,' the Dalai Lama said at a Buddhist convention in West Bengal...The Dalai Lama said even religious radicals could be 'sincere practitioners' of their faith. 'Fundamentalism is born when religion is used for political and economic purposes.' He said the Pope agreed with him that all religions preached tolerance and brotherhood...'We are all spiritual brothers and sisters,' the Dalai Lama said, calling for religious pluralism for the entire world."