Religion and war culture discussed in Vienna


Date posted: October 18, 2014

The symposium titled “Religious Communities in the World War I,” organized as part of the “1914-Peace-2014” series, jointly by Vienna-based Friede-Institut für Dialog (Peace Institute for Dialogue), the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) and Austrian Katholische Militaerseelsorge took place at the Vienna Military Academy on Thursday, October 16 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the World War I.

The event was attended by the cadets from the Vienna Military High School in addition to the representatives of more than 30 international religious groups working at the armies of many European countries such as Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Spain and transoceanic countries such as the US and Ecuador.

Delivering the opening speech, Episcopal Vicar Werner Freistetter, the head of the Institut für Religion und Frieden (Institute for Religion and Peace), greeted the quests from abroad and thanked the Friede-Institut für Dialog for its cooperation. Then the floor went to Patrick J. Houlihan, lecturer from the Department of History at Chicago University, who discussed the traces of the wars and its impact on the countries in this paper titled “Religion and War Culture: 100 Years after the Great War.”

The second presentation came from Wilhelm Achleitner, Education Director of Puchberg Palace in Wels. Titled “War Theology of Austrian Bishops in the World War,” Achleitner’s presentation quoted Pope Francis as saying, “War cannot be waged in the name of God; this is what we should dogmatize.”

Journalist/writer Mustafa Akyol looked at the war from a different perspective in his presentation, titled “Place of Religious Communities in the Ottoman Empire during the World War I: A Historical Inquiry into Religious Diversity in Contemporary Turkey.” Akyol argued that contemporary conflicts date back to the post-World War I era, which served as a hotbed for today’s radical Islamist and marginal groups.

Claudia Reichl-Ham, from the Museum of Military History, delivered a speech about the religious services during the Great War. Reichl-Ham’s presentation was accompanied with a rich repository of photos about the multi-religious composition of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army and religious ceremonies of these religious communities. She noted that the Austrian state’s decision to recognize “Islam” as an official religion dated back to the war years, i.e., 1912.

Julia Walleczek-Fritz, from the Platform for Research into the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the World War I, treated the issue of religious freedoms with a focus on the prisoners of war in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. She indicated that 8-9 millions of prisoners of war and their religious freedoms constituted a major agenda item in the empire at that time. Walleczek-Fritz added that while there were glitches in translating theory into practice, the rights granted for general religious rites –provided that military rules were not breached– should be considered as freedoms.

The symposium ended after the question and answer session.

Source: Journalists and Writers Foundation , October 16, 2014


Related News

Kimse Yok Mu hosts international experts for social media benefits conference

The Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anyone There?) Foundation hosted an international conference titled “Social Media for Good” in Istanbul on Friday, drawing a wide range of international experts in journalism and social media to discuss ways of making positive contributions via the Internet.

Teaching Peace in Schools

Alp Aslandogan, President, Alliance for Shared Values* This week New York City hosts the United Nations General Assembly, the Clinton Global Initiative and the Education Nation conference. These massive events focus on international diplomacy and peace, societal problem-solving and improving classroom instruction. However, just a few blocks away from these grand assemblies, a smaller group […]

New constitution must bear spirit of Abant

ABANT — Turkey has long been trying to rid itself of the remnants of the Constitution of 1982, which was the product of the military coup of September 12, 1980, as it goes through a process of confronting and settling accounts with military tutelage and coups. Bülent Keneş, Sunday March 11, 2012 Almost all political […]

The follower of Hizmet

In this video an anonymous follower, who is a teacher, of the Gulen Movement expresses her personal view points on its current affairs.

Who speaks for Islam in Turkey?

Huseyin Gulerce voiced deep concern about Erdogan’s criticism of Fethullah Gulen “as a fake prophet” at a meeting of the Religious Affairs Directorate. Gulerce asked, “Would not the stability of the country be harmed if the mosques are polarized as such?” He concluded that politics have dominated religion.

The Future of Islamic Civilization in A Globalizing World

By Muzaffar K Awan, M.D.  Grand Rapids Michigan USA The Muslim civilization was developed historically (spanning from 7th through the 17th centuries) dominating the world close to a millennium. It had transformed the world particularly during its golden age (8th to the 12th centuries); had become universal, supremely successful in all human endeavors, education, democratic […]

Latest News

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

Trip to Turkey leaves a lasting impression

Pro-Rashid Dostum Afghan security forces raided Afghan-Turk Boys High School in Shibirghan

Philippine House speaker receives Turkish school delegation

Turkish charity dedicates well in Africa to brutally killed Özgecan Aslan

Kimse Yok Mu continues relief efforts in Gaza

Refugees from Erdogan’s Turkey seek to make a new life in Germany

Former Hampton Roads physicist arrested after Turkey coup attempt

Copyright 2023 Hizmet News