On Nov. 23, Wilfrid Laurier University hosted the 43rd World Religions Conference (WRC) at the Lazaridis Hall Auditorium, becoming a hub for dialogue, reflection and education, drawing on religious scholars, community leaders and students to explore the pressing social challenge of combating hate.
Hosted annually in Canada by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at since 1981, the conference brings voices together from major world religions, Indigenous faiths and non-religious perspectives to foster understanding and encourage harmonious living.
This year, representatives from Sikhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Indigenous traditions and Humanism shared how their teachings and lived experiences can help confront prejudice. Nabeela Rana, WRC organizer and member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, highlighted the conference’s neutrality and inclusivity.
“Every year, there are more people coming, and every year we see more interest because of the nature of this conference… we’re giving eight faiths or philosophies a chance to speak,” Rana said.
The event participants explained that hate, whether it’s personal or systematic, thrives on fear and ignorance. Upkar Singh, a community worker and leader representing the Sikh perspective, explained that hate stems from fear, while love and understanding unite communities. He cited historical examples of courage and compassion, such as the sacrifice of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, for the freedom of other traditions, and Guru Nanak’s teachings of nirbhau (without fear), nirvair (without hatred).
“By carrying that same fearlessness, only then can we stand against hate, united and strong,” Singh said.
Shiv Talwar, president of the Spiritual Heritage Education Network and Hindu representative at the WRC, said spiritual practices transform individuals from within to overcome hatred.
“If we want to stop hate, we have to even change our biochemistry… our love is biochemistry driven. Our hate is also biochemistry driven too,” he said.
Mindfulness, breathwork, and contemplative practices were presented as tools to cultivate empathy and awareness.
Farhan Iqbal, an Imam from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, highlighted Islam’s emphasis on conviction and peaceful engagement, recalling the Prophet Muhammad’s resilience in the face of threats.
“The Prophet, Muhammad, was granted the conviction and the strength of belief to convey his message,” Iqbal said, urging attendees to engage with understanding and dialogue. “He calmly faced danger and responded with faith and patience.”
Father Toby Collins, a pastor from St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, offered a Christian perspective, emphasizing the idea of transforming hate and prejudice through love and forgiveness. He draws on biblical teachings and encourages attendees to pray for those who caused harm, underscoring the power of community and the need to protect joy while serving other people within our community.
“When we pray for other people… there becomes an opportunity to grow an awareness of what we really need, where we can find it, and we can move better towards forgiveness,” Collins said.
Jay Judkowitz, head of AMR Product and Engineering at OTTO by Rockwell Automation and President of Temple Shalom, a Reform Jewish synagogue in Waterloo, highlighted teachings on community and teshuva, the process of repentance and restitution.
“While we are commanded to do teshuva, we are also supposed to accept it,” Judkowitz said. “If you just keep punishing people, the world’s never going to improve.”
Similarly, Mitra Barua, an assistant professor of Asian Studies and a Buddhist Scholar in Residence at the Martin Luther University College, said Buddhist traditions emphasize introspection and mindful reflection to prevent hatred from taking root.
“Buddha guided leaders to examine their own greed, delusion, and aversion before taking harmful action, encouraging individuals to find answers within themselves,” he said.
Clarence Cachagee, founder of the Crow Shield Lodge, a Mishkegowak Chaplin Cree, and the Indigenous speaker at the conference, explained that Indigenous teachings emphasize the sacred connection between the land, ancestors and prayer. Cachagee shared that prayer, tobacco and drums are central to maintaining harmony and grounding oneself in community.
“Our drum, when we play our drums, it’s a form of prayer… all of those things come from the land, from home,” Cachagee said.
Finally, Sassan Sanei, Chief Technology Officer at Artyart Limited, and philosopher representing Humanist perspectives during the conference, highlighted that moral responsibility does not require formal religious structures.
“We don’t need a formal structure or organizational hierarchy… we just need to know what’s right and what’s wrong,” Sanei said, emphasizing empathy, compassion, and reason as guiding principles for confronting hate.
Throughout the conference, recurring themes emerged: fear and ignorance of fuel division, but courage, compassion, introspection and community build bridges. Faith and philosophy, whether religious or secular, provide tools to recognize hate, transform behavior, and foster understanding.
As Rana noted, interfaith engagement represents a path forward for societies seeking unity amid diversity.
“The World Religions Conference continues to offer a platform for dialogue, reflection, and education, calling on attendees to build a society rooted in compassion, understanding, and the shared effort to combat hate,” Rana said.
By bringing together diverse voices, the WRC demonstrated that understanding and empathy are essential tools in the fight against hate.
Contributed Photo/Sangjun Han
This article is cross published in The Community Edition.
