UST Graduate School Theology program lead and Institute of Religion academic staff Prof. Pablito Baybado, Jr., Ph.D., presented the paper, “Academic Perspectives on Peaceful and Inclusive Societies in Southeast Asia” at the International Conference on “Human Dignity and ASEAN: Pursuing Peaceful and Inclusive Societies in Southeast Asia,” held at Brigham Young University-Hawaii on April 22-25, 2025.
Organized by Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative Center, Brigham Young University (BYU) Hawaii, and the International Center for Law and Religion (ICLRS) at BYU Law School, the southeast asia conference aims to provide an opportunity for ASEAN Ministers, religious clergy, government officials, academic scholars, and civil society leaders to expand the understanding of new approaches to building peaceful and inclusive societies in Southeast Asia.
In his paper, Baybado explores synodality, a model of communal discernment, mutual listening, and participatory governance rooted in the Christian tradition, as a transformative approach toward building peaceful and inclusive societies in Southeast Asia. In a region marked by majority-minority relations and ethnic and religious identities in the context of political volatility, the principles of synodality offer a framework for dialogue, solidarity, and shared responsibility among multicultural and multireligious communities.
By emphasizing inclusivity, respect for human dignity, and active participation in social and political life, synodality transcends ethno-religious identity and social boundaries and provides valuable insights for interfaith collaboration, conflict resolution, and social cohesion. Drawing on both theological reflections and regional case studies, the paper argues that a synodal approach can contribute significantly to peacebuilding, inclusive governance, and the nurturing of pluralistic societies in Southeast Asia.
