Faith, Values and Religion
Introduction
The World Economic Forum recognizes the immense importance of faith communities around the world and the relevance of faith to the global economy, politics, society and individuals. The voices of faith leaders are integrated throughout our events and activities as experts on a broad set of topics of relevance to the global agenda.
In 2001, the World Economic Forum began engaging various faith communities through the Community for West-Islam dialogue, a dynamic group of business, political, religious, media and opinion leaders engaged in inter-faith dialogue to promote understanding across different segments of society in the West and Muslim world.
The current work of the Faith Communities at the World Economic Forum has expanded beyond this focus on interfaith dialogue and now encompasses a broad range of topics including business values and ethics, the interface between religion and science, education, health, climate change, poverty and development.
The faith perspective is integrated in a structured manner into the majority of the World Economic Forum's core work through the following workstreams:
- This influential grouping engages global, regional and national religious leaders from different faiths, as well as leaders of faith-based organizations, in dialogue with each other and with other stakeholders shaping the global agenda.
- The Council is composed of globally pre-eminent thought leaders, scholars, business leaders and religious leaders exploring the role of values and faith in shaping the global agenda. Every year, the Council selects a particular theme or pressing challenge and works to identify the most efficient and actionable solutions. In 2010/11, the focus is on the role of values in helping to create a moral economy.
- In 2008, the first in a series of annual publications focused on the state of dialogue between the Islamic and Western worlds. The 2010 report compiles editorials on the topic of “Values in the Post-Crisis Economy” from over 15 global religious leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations, and contains a unique public opinion poll on values which points to a trust deficit regarding values in the business world.
For more information, please contact us at faith@weforum.org
Values for the Post-Crisis Economy
This Report, Faith and the Global Agenda: Values for the Post-Crisis Economy, produced by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Georgetown University, is the first effort of its kind, seeking to enhance understanding of the values that will be vital for our collective future and the positive role that faith plays in articulating those values. In the first section of the Report, we aim to benchmark public opinion on values. In the second section, we bring together the unique wealth of information that leaders of the world’s religions...
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July 6, 2011
Listening to the Voice of Labour
The Forum engages regularly with the Labour Leaders Community, comprised of heads of leading global, regional, national and industry-specific labour and trade unions around the world.Labour Leaders are integrated into the Annual Meeting and regional meetings, and are engaged year-round in other work of the Forum including cross-cutting initiatives, task forces and industry-specific projects.Labour has contributed to substantive work at the Forum via the Global Education Intiative, Global Digital Divide Initiative, Task Force on Institutions of Globalization, Private Equity Project, Schwab...
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November 18, 2010
NGOs: connecting policymakers to the grassroots
Non-governmental organizations play a variety of roles in partnering with the Forum to improve the state of the world, including serving as a bridge between business, government and civil society, connecting the policy makers to the grassroots, bringing practical solutions to the table, calling their peers to account, and acting as the mouthpiece for the voiceless who are often left out of decision-making processes.NGOs participate in the Forum's Annual Meeting, the Annual Meeting of New Champions, and the regional summits. Throughout the year, NGO CEOs and specialists contribute to the Forum...
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November 18, 2010
Thought leadership through art, culture and sport
The Forum is at a crossroads of a unique network of thinkers, innovators and entrepreneurs whose activities provide a catalyst to Forum members' thinking.The incorporation of Artists and Cultural Leaders serves two purposes. Firstly, it provides a platform for cultural leaders to advance their social agenda at the highest level. Secondly, given the high profile of the cultural personalities that we target, it helps to raise awareness and draw attention of other decision makers to the issue. It raises the profile of the issue and it provides an opportunity for action.The aim is to integrate...
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November 18, 2010
World Economic Forum on the Middle East 2008
The theme “Learning from the Future” reflected the contention that by considering how the world may evolve in 15-20 years time we can draw important lessons for today. The combination of economic, political and social factors at play in the Middle East made this year a particularly fitting time for such an exercise.
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November 9, 2010
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the World: Scenarios to 2025
These three scenarios examine potential shifts across economic, environmental, social, political and technological spheres and offer challenging visions designed to test strategy, open up dialogue, and offer insight into important factors affecting Saudi Arabia and the broader region between today and 2025.
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November 4, 2010
The Middle East and North Africa at Risk 2010
This ground-breaking report builds on the Forum's expertise in global risks by providing relevant macro analyses that are particularly important for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The report focuses on three risk areas that are specifically relevant to the region: water scarcity, energy security and underinvestment in infrastructure. Not only are these pressing issues in their own right given the region’s social, geopolitical, economic and environmental context, but all three are also highly interconnected. Examining interlinkages between these issues provides greater insight...
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October 23, 2010
Harnessing the Power of Faith Networks
Current estimates indicate that between 30 and 70% of relief and development-related services in Africa is operated by faith-based groups and organizations; thus, they have a tremendous impact on the region's health, education and population.How can governments and other stakeholders collaborate more effectively with faith-based groups to improve the reach and quality of these services?This session is off the record.Key Points• The world’s major faiths have committed themselves to helping the poor of Africa and have extensive aid networks across the continent. These and a myriad ...
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May 5, 2010
Restoring Faith in Economics
Restoring Faith in Economics"Markets could not flourish without a strong underlying moral culture, animated by empathy and fellow-feeling, by our ability to understand our common bond as human beings and to recognize the needs of others." – Adam Smith (1723-1790)How can the moral spirit of capitalism be reclaimed?Key Points• Our economic system has lost its moral compass and has created problems including unsustainable resource depletion, global inequality and mispricing of scarce resources• Adam Smith’s market economy only functions efficiently if people are moral beings who ...
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January 28, 2010
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2010
The theme of the Annual Meeting was Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild. In his opening address, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France said that it would not be possible to emerge from the global economic crisis and protect against future crises if the economic imbalances that are at the root of the problem are not addressed.
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January 27, 2010
Reconciling Religion and Science in Society
Religion and science are increasingly in conflict over ethical and political concerns linked to scientific research and policies in areas such as stem cells, genetics, organ donation and vaccines.
How should the concerns of both communities be addressed and what are the best mechanisms to do this?
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January 30, 2009
Religion and Human Rights: A Contradiction?
Church and religious communities are often critical voices and successful fighters for the protection of human dignity and human rights. However, religion and human rights are often in contradiction to each other: forced marriages, religiously motivated terrorist attacks and the oppression of people with different religious beliefs are some examples. Moreover, some churches and religious communities still discriminate against women and homosexuals.
1) Why are human rights' violations committed on behalf of religion?
2) Is the increase of religious fundamentalism connected to respect or...
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January 30, 2009
Faith in Religion
The essential message of all religions is one of tolerance and understanding; yet, religion continues to be used to divide rather than unite.
How can faith reverse this trend?
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January 30, 2009
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2009
The theme of the Annual Meeting was Shaping the Post-Crisis World. Global leaders urged collaboration and swift action in Davos, warning that there was only a short time to develop effective solutions to the current economic crisis. The overriding message from the Annual Meeting was that leaders must continue to develop a swift and coordinated policy response to the most serious global recession since the 1930s: global challenges demand global solutions.
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January 28, 2009
The State and Religion in a Modern World
• Mehmet Aydin• H.R.H. Princess Lolowah Al Faisal Al Saud•Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu •Diarmuid MartinModerated by • Suna S. Vidinli Friday 31 October14.00-15.15The long-standing prediction that religion would fade away as societies progress has proven to be mistaken, participants agreed. But precisely what is the role of religion in the modern state? And are there differences in history and tradition that make different religions more or less important in governance?Key points made during the session included the following:Islam1. The position of religion in Muslim countries is ...
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October 31, 2008
Faith and Modernization
Faith and Modernization
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Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
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Mahdi Hadavi
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David A. Harris
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Cardinal Theodore McCarrick
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Rick WarrenChaired by ·
Tony BlairThursday 24 January"In a world where faith is seen to pull people apart, how do we use it to bring people together? Why faith in the modern world?" asked Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997-2007), a Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum, and a Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2008. As panellists strove to answer this question, they kept coming back to a ...
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January 24, 2008
