The Peace Forum for Forgiveness and Reconciliation

In this context, urgent need for healing and unity has never been greater. Religious teachings, particularly those emphasising compassion, justice, and the sacredness of human life, can inspire and sustain peace efforts. Forgiveness, central to many religious traditions, is especially important. It does not mean forgetting or condoning wrongdoing, but rather freeing individuals and communities from the grip of resentment and enabling the possibility of new connections.

The Peace Forum for Forgiveness and Reconciliation is a new initiative. It combines the resources and vision of the Cadbury Centre and Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, one of the largest and most socially engaged Gurudwaras in Europe. It will explore the role and capacity of religion to foster peace between communities through the transformative power of forgiveness and reconciliation. All the world’s great faiths have at times been associated with conflict and violence; yet they also hold profound resources for promoting peacebuilding, compassion, justice, and reconciliation. All religions have their own expression of the ‘Golden Rule’ which expresses the need to put others first and recognise the dignity of every human life.

The Forum seeks to create a constructively critical and academically rigorous space.  Researchers, religious leaders, activists and practitioners will come together to explore how to build bridges rather than barriers. It will encourage mutual respect, healing past grievances, and building relationships of trust. Our work acknowledges that true reconciliation is not simply the absence of conflict but the presence of restored relationships, truth-telling, and the courage to forgive.

Forgiveness, central to many spiritual traditions, is not a passive act but a bold and transformative step toward liberation—from hatred, from victimhood, and from cycles of violence. When supported by religious teachings, forgiveness becomes a powerful tool for rebuilding fractured societies. It enables people to move forward with dignity and hope. To build more cohesive societies and promote a sense of shared responsibility towards living at peace with other human beings, wider society, and the environment.

The Forum’s mission is promoting forgiveness and reconciliation across boundaries:

• providing practical bridge-building activities towards forgiveness;
• working for reconciliation and forgiveness through shared endeavour;
• and identifying faith-based and faith-sensitive solutions to global crises and conflicts through promoting the core values, wisdom, and practices of the major world religions.

It aims to highlight demonstrate how religious values and virtues can address the contemporary challenges faced by humanity, both individually and collectively.

The Peace Forum for Forgiveness and Reconciliation will provide a platform for dialogue, learning, and joint action across religious boundaries. It will highlight the constructive role religion can play in promoting social cohesion, justice, and lasting peace. Over time, we will develop practical resources for bridge-building and conflict resolution. We will promote research and educational opportunities in the crucial areas of peace-building, forgiveness and reconciliation. We will seek to raise interest in these fields through creative cultural and artistic expression as well as more traditional academic routes.

Religion can play a powerful role in the process of building peace and bringing lasting reconciliation. Faith communities are often among the most trusted institutions in a society and can be vital mediators, connectors and bridge-builders. The Peace Forum seeks to help understand and promote this critically-important contribution.