*This post is part of our “Faith in Action: Moral Courage for a Nuclear-Free Future” series
By Danny Hall, Lead Capitol Hill Representative & Faith Community Outreach Coordinator for Back from the Brink
On August 6th, communities around the globe will unite in reflection and advocacy for Nuclear Prayer Day, a sacred observance marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Co-sponsored by organizations like Back from the Brink, this day symbolizes the powerful intersection of faith, peace, and planet. It serves as a call to collective prayer, heartfelt connection, and courageous action to address the grave threats of nuclear weapons and climate chaos.
April Assembly: A Moment of Reflection, Interconnection, and Renewal
The journey to August 6th is supported by monthly Nuclear Prayer Day Assemblies, and I had the privilege of attending the April gathering on Tuesday the 29th. It was a profoundly moving space for reflection and renewal, facilitated by Monica Willard and Paul Andrews of URI’s Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons. Together, we confronted the urgent realities of humanity’s polycrisis while reaffirming our shared commitment to healing the world.
The assembly began with the Nuclear Prayer by URI’s founder and president emeritus, The Rt. Rev. William Swing—a grounding invocation that called participants to embrace both sober fear and intoxicating hope:
“Help us to lift the fog of atomic darkness that hovers so pervasively over our Earth… Bless all of us who wait today for your presence and who dedicate ourselves to achieve your intended peace and rightful equilibrium on Earth…”
This spiritual grounding prepared attendees for deeply moving insights from distinguished speakers, each addressing the intersection of spirituality, peacebuilding, and planetary care.
Stewardship and the Power of Interconnection
Rev. Lauren Van Ham, URI’s Earth Restoration Coordinator, opened her reflections with a powerful call to pause and breathe. She reminded participants of the reciprocal wisdom in nature—our exhalations feed plants and trees, which then provide the oxygen for our next inhale.
“Nature perpetually invites us to conspire with her. We will not fix our current moment by thinking we are separate or by using power-over techniques.”
Lauren painted a sobering picture of humanity’s polycrisis, explaining how climate chaos and nuclear threats are interconnected outcomes of an extractive economic system driven by disposability and built-in obsolescence. She called for responses rooted in compassion, courage, and interdependence—embracing ancient teachings from faith traditions and indigenous knowledge.
Youth and Human Revolution: A Call to Transformative Change
Lucy Plummer, representing Soka Gakkai International (SGI), offered an inspiring message about the power of youth in creating positive global change. Drawing from her experience at SGI’s SDGs promotional Youth Festival titled “I Disarm Myself,” Lucy underscored the importance of personal transformation as a foundation for societal progress. In SGI, this process is called “human revolution”:
“Human potential is infinite, and so is our capacity to create value. Inner transformation is the key to tackling both the climate crisis and the threat of nuclear weapons.”
Lucy shared her personal journey of transforming despair into hope through her Buddhist practice. Turning “poison into medicine,” she found renewed courage to address institutional barriers and empower young people to engage with the SDG agenda.
Faith, Peace, and Planet: A Shared Responsibility
Haneen Khalid, a Princeton PhD candidate and advocate with Young Pugwash Voices, posed profound questions about stewardship and solidarity. She asked:
“What can we do to ensure that we turn not away but towards one another and towards the lifelines that can give us hope and courage, commitment and solidarity to navigate the unknown?”
Haneen emphasized the importance of forging new bonds through faith, peace, and planet, and of seeing this moment not as one of collapse but as one of renewal. Her reflections called for a re-centering of the Earth, the poor, and the conflict-ridden in our collective efforts to build a future that serves all.
The Heart of Nuclear Disarmament
The Rt. Rev. William Swing reflected on the moral and spiritual dimensions of nuclear disarmament. He shared the moving story of how prayer became a unifying force among diplomats, military leaders, and scientists—many of whom had direct involvement with nuclear weapons. Swing emphasized that the journey toward disarmament must come from the heart:
“Nuclear disarmament has to come from your life… There’s a private place inside you where you make the big decisions about the good.”
His reflections underscored the transformative power of prayer and meditation in fostering compassion and mercy, even among those who hold the levers of power.
A Call to Action: Turning Reflection Into Advocacy
The April Assembly concluded with actionable steps for participants to carry forward the momentum:
- Register as co-sponsors for Nuclear Prayer Day.
- Engage in monthly assemblies to deepen understanding and solidarity.
- Share resources with youth, empowering the next generation to reflect on Hiroshima and Nagasaki’s legacy and advocate for peace.
House Resolution 317 (H. Res. 317) remains central to Back from the Brink’s mission, emphasizing the urgent need for nuclear abolition to address the fragility of managing these weapons, which are vulnerable to systemic failures and emerging dangers such as artificial intelligence in command systems. The resolution also highlights the escalating risks of conflict between nuclear-armed states, such as India and Pakistan, and the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental impacts of nuclear war, including the looming threat of nuclear famine. Budgets are moral documents that reflect our national values, and integrating this resolution into Nuclear Prayer Day amplifies the call to redirect resources from militarism to essential human needs like education, healthcare, and housing, fostering a safer and more equitable future for all.
Faith, Peace, and Planet: A Shared Responsibility
Nuclear Prayer Day invites us to embrace faith, peace, and planet as guiding principles for collective action. It reminds us that change begins within—with compassion, mercy, and a commitment to healing. Above all, it calls us to act—to transform heartfelt prayers into lasting peace.
On August 6th, let us come together to honor this sacred day. By carrying forward the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors and advocating for justice-centered policies, we can build a brighter future for all. Together, we can turn hope into peace and courage into systemic transformation.
*Faith in Action: Moral Courage for a Nuclear-Free Future
Faith traditions have long stood at the forefront of movements for peace, justice, and the sanctity of life. In this blog series, “Faith in Action: Moral Courage for a Nuclear-Free Future” we explore how people of faith are responding to the moral and existential crisis posed by nuclear weapons. Through reflections, event recaps, and contributions from our interfaith partners, this series offers a space for spiritual voices calling for disarmament—and a reminder that confronting the threat of nuclear annihilation is not just a political issue, but a deeply human and moral one.
While Back from the Brink is a secular campaign, we are proud to stand in solidarity with faith-based partners who see nuclear abolition as both a spiritual imperative and a call to justice. Together, we bear witness—and take action—for a future free from nuclear weapons.
If you’re part of a faith group that’s interested in getting involved with Back from the Brink, you can reach out to Danny Hall at danny@preventnuclearwar.org.
