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What inhibits religious organizations, which believe in the same God, to cooperate with one another? What are the factors that prevent from tolerating each other and being involved in public processes together.

During the conference of 10-11, held in Vanadzor, problems of tolerance and cooperation were discussed. HCA Vanadzor organized it with support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands . Within the project “Public Awareness Raising on Freedom of Religion in Armenia ” HCA Vanadzor had the opportunity to study the problems existing in the field of religion in Armenia , to publish about them and to gather religious organizations that have religious differences.

The representatives of Shirak and Gugarats dioceses of Armenian Apostolic Church , as well as Jehovah’s Witnesses refused to participate in the conference “The Role of Religious Organizations in Public Processes”. During the two days it was not difficult for the representatives of different directions of Protestant Church , New Apostolic Church and the Church of Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ to talk about their problems and ways of solving them.

“The fact that we are here today testifies about the wish of collaboration” -Arayik Minasyan-advisor of the head of the Church of Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ, stated.

“If religious organizations do not tolerate each other, we cannot speak about civil tolerance”.

“Religious organizations have a role with their existence rather than with their activities”.

“In the sense of ideology we must create such an atmosphere so that we can listen to one another”.

These were the opinions of the participants around which it would be possible to work and overcome together different obstacles and have participation in public life.

Arthur Sakunts, the coordinator of HCA Vanadzor, presented the investigations where the basis is the attitude of the public that if you are not a member of Armenian Apostolic Church then you are accepted only with your religious affiliation .

“Armenian Apostolic Church is national because without having a statehood it was once a state for Armenian people”-expressed his opinion Gevork Manukyan, head of Armenian Constitutional Rights Protective Center , stressing the special role of Armenian Apostolic Church , and from that viewpoint he did not observe all religious organizations on the same level.

Stepan Danielyan-head of the NGO “Collaboration for Democracy”- presented the field of religious organizations and the law regulating the freedom of conscience. He pointed out a lot of contradictions and “terrible” articles. The law, in fact, is advantageous only for Armenian Apostolic Church and all the rights which are entitled to Armenian Apostolic Church do not concern other religious organizations.

Religious organizations are isolated from society. Rafael Grigoryan, pastor of Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith blames for this not only society but also themselves. “We are not initiative”. But do we need to be initiative and come out of isolation? During the workshop when the role and meaning of religious organizations in establishing civil society was pointed out, importance was attached to passing from close system to open society. Cooperation with NGOs and with one another is necessary for effective solution of own problems.

During the conference, it was decided to continue the formed collaboration, the process of mutual recognition through regular meetings, holding joint events, expressing joint position on different problems of public concern. In this aspect religious organizations will be supported by HCA Vanadzor and “Collaboration for Democracy” center.

Naira Bulghadaryan