Religious leaders

Religion without science is superstition and science without religion is blind. Albert Einstein

Religion plays a central, integrating role in social and cultural life in the human communities. The world's religions, like sunlight, reach out to every community even in the most remote corners of earth through spoken, broadcast or printed word, and through religious symbols, images, ceremonies, festivals and traditions.

Thus, religious leaders are in close and regular contact with all age groups in society, and their voice is highly respected and considered authoritative. In several communities, religious leaders are often more influential than local government officials or secular community leaders.

Organized religion can also exert a powerful influence on the priorities of society and the policies of its leadership. There could be no greater cause to which to lend that influence than that of ensuring the rights of people and entrust a newer sense of social accountability for common good.

Religious leaders throughout the world are requested to use and promote the themes of Movement Millennium, suitably adapted for their own religious, social and cultural situations as specified below:

Leaders of national and international religious organizations and movements can promote Movement Millennium at conferences, meetings and interviews with the mass media.

Training institutions for religious leaders and lay workers can use the themes of the Movement in training courses, seminars and workshops which they could put into practice as soon as they are back to work.

Publishers and producers of religious materials for religious organizations can present the movement millennium messages through like books, magazines, newspapers, and producers of films, videos, posters, flipcharts, multimedia presentations and other audiovisual aids.

Radio stations belonging to religious organizations can broadcast plays, stories, interviews, advertising spots, songs and animated dialogues, featuring the themes of movement millennium.

Individual religious leaders and lay workers could propagate the messages about the Movement during prayer and study groups, counseling young people and parents, and during talks or sermons.

Study groups and adult education classes could use this action guide as a reference book/site to be studied and discussed chapter by chapter.

Ministries of religion could place hard copies of this action guide in the hands of every religious leader and every teacher at the religious leaders. Also, these messages could be reproduced in the official newsletter.