Religious Freedom and Peace

After a brief review of the Biblical background of peace, this presentation will address the theme of religion and peace from the perspective of modern Catholic principles, especially with guidance from the Second Vatican Council's Dignitatis Humanae and John XXIII's Pacem in Terris, both of which affirm the primacy of conscience in a personalist conception of society where the role of government is to provide for the common welfare, including the right to religious freedom. Such a social order is instrumental to establishing peace on earth. Taiwan offers an Asian example of a democratic society in which the state does not intervene in religious affairs and religions participate in public affairs without actively seeking to control the state. Religious groups enjoy freedom within Taiwan society, which in turn enjoys the benefits of religions contributing to the common good.