MUMBAI, India (UCAN) -- The multireligious and multicultural continent of Asia is like no other in the world.

For centuries people of different faiths in Asia have lived and struggled together, and survived oppressive conquerors, colonialists and corrupt politicians (in our present-day democracies). Setting aside their differences and uniting for a greater cause, the people have rallied together to stand up against these powers of domination.

Today, the pace and quality of life provide enough fuel for violence and conflict. Greed (for power and wealth), individualism, materialism, competition, stress, etc. provide the sparks to ignite conflict. How do we bridge the gap between our deepest desire for peace and the tensions of 21st-century living?

Asia can show the way again, in uniting together for the well-being of all people despite our differences in religious beliefs and cultures. Our rootedness in religion, community and culture has sustained us. We believe unity in diversity can bring about harmony, because all our faiths ascribe to the common well-being of humanity.

Asia is the cradle of world religions. All religions and religious movements try to respond to the deepest needs and yearnings of humankind -- peace and contentment being the most central. How do we tap resources in our religions to bring about peace, justice and harmony in society? We need to focus on what we share in common rather than what we perceive to be differences or threats.

Women in the Catholic Church are active in this area, through their involvement in building neighborhood communities, which the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) has identified as a pastoral priority.

Ecclesia in Asia [Church in Asia, the 1999 papal apostolic exhortation that concluded the Synod for Asia] affirms women's role in building community and peace: "Women should be more effectively involved in pastoral programs . ... Their abilities and services should be fully appreciated in health care, in education, in preparing the faithful for the sacraments, in building community and in peacemaking" (No. 45).

When Hindu-Muslim riots broke out in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in 1992, after Hindu zealots demolished Babri Masjid (mosque) in Ayodhya, no conflict occurred between the two communities in the parish of Jeri Meri in Bombay archdiocese. Around the country, the riots killed more than 3,000 people, most of them Muslims.

The neighborhood community experiment was being tried out in this parish and people grew to trust each other, so they did not fall prey to rumors about their Hindu or Muslim neighbor. These communities were built on the Small Christian Community model and came to be known as Basic Human Communities (BHC).

Jeri Meri is a predominantly industrial slum area of Mumbai, where access to basic amenities like toilets and drinking water provide ignition points for conflict on a daily basis. A couple of dedicated sisters from the Society of Helpers of Mary inserted themselves in the living experience of these people by literally "pitching their tent" among them.

They helped the residents recognize their true problems and search for the right solutions through community meetings. They dealt with problems of cleanliness and hygiene by going to the source of the problem and taking preventive action.

The women were the protagonists in this project, since the problems of daily living concerned them directly. Women were empowered in the process. They became leaders not just in their own neighborhood, but went out to other suburban slum communities in Mumbai to share and teach others to live in peace and harmony. Sustaining such communities is important.

Every person longs for peace and harmony in their living environment. There are many who will go to the extent of tolerating a great deal to keep peace, to the point of even allowing their rights to be trampled upon. Women and the poor are generally part of this group. But there comes a time when the stress or tolerance reaches the breaking point and conflict remains the only way to solve the problem.

The globalization of the economy has created a new culture of living, working and doing business that necessarily marginalizes and oppresses the weak and the poor. Large communities of people have been deprived of their rights to ancestral lands, livelihood and water sources. Impoverishment and marginalization of communities is leading to unrest and low-intensity conflicts in Asia.

Meanwhile, the global "war against terror" has polarized religious communities and sharpened identity politics, which easily stir up passions and ignite conflict. Hence it is even more important to focus on our common humanity. If we can work together to ensure well-being, justice and peace in our neighborhoods and society, we will grow to trust and care for one another. We need to move beyond our narrow communal/religious agendas and personal selfishness to address the greater issues of human rights and basic human needs.

Justice is integral to peace and involves respect for the rights of every person. Respect for rights enables people to live a dignified human existence with the attendant basic needs. Working together to ensure that every person has access to their needs and rights will guarantee peace.

Another factor one cannot deny is that our younger generation is being influenced by a new global culture that undermines community and family ties as well as the binding influence of rich cultural practices. Violence being touted as entertainment is eagerly lapped up by vulnerable minds. Young people who have grown up on this diet of entertainment have not hesitated to use it at the slightest provocation. We need to tap our spiritualities and religious sources to help youth deal with any propensity to violence.

Taking preventive action to avert flashpoint situations that ignite conflict is essential. As Christians we need to be leaven in society to promote peace. This is an imperative of Christian discipleship. The Beatitudes are our blueprint for life, and the social teachings of the Church our handbook.

The initiative for building BHCs needs to flow from this spirituality in action. If every Christian commits herself/himself to this project in their neighborhood, they will begin to create little pools of peace and harmony that can merge into an ocean of peace and harmony in their city, country and throughout Asia.

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Virginia Saldanha lives in Mumbai, India. She is executive secretary of the FABC Office of Laity and Family, and former executive secretary of the Commission for Women in the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.

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