| 2020 Peace conversation with Helen Clark | 2020 Peace conversation with Helen Clark
The Dunedin Abrahamic Interfaith Group and Otago Tertiary
Chaplaincy have hosted annual peace lectures since 2004. The most recent one in September 2020 was with Helen Clark at Otago University. You can watch the video here. All the previous annual peace lectures are available on the Interfaith Group's website www.dunedininterfaith.net.nz. | | The role of Mysticism in fostering Interfaith Dialogue and Tolerance | The role of Mysticism in fostering Interfaith Dialogue and TolerancePhilip Brown has recently published an online-article: The Role of Mysticism in Fostering Interfaith Dialogue and Tolerance (see https://sheppartoninterfaith.org.au/?p=6218). He writes: "It is a condensed version of an essay I recently completed titled: Mysticism, the Perennial Philosophy and Interfaith Dialogue. As an independent researcher in the field of Contemplative Studies my sole purpose in writing these documents was the promotion of Interfaith dialogue and tolerance. Feedback from those who kindly undertook to read drafts of the essay have been positive without exception. For example, I received very positive feedback from the following academics in the field of religious studies:
• Dr Dana Sawyer (Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Maine College of Art, Portland, Maine, USA; Biographer of Huston Smith and Aldous Huxley).
• Dr Gerard Hall, (Honorary Associate Professor and former Head of the School of Theology at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane, Australia).
• Dr Bet Green (Senior Lecturer in Theology at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane, Australia)." The full version of the essay is available here.
| | Interfaith Prayer Initiative at Hamilton City Council meetings | Interfaith Prayer Initiative at Hamilton City Council meetings
The new Mayor, Paula Southgate, has allowed the
Waikato Interfaith Council to reinstitute Interfaith prayers at the
start of the Community Committee meetings of the Hamilton City Council. These
began on 17 November 2020, after a long absence, with an
interfaith prayer read by WIFCO President Rev Andrew McKean, supported by
members of the Waikato Interfaith Council (representing our Bahá’í, Buddhist,
Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities) and two waiata sung by
the Waikato Interfaith Choir: Te Aroha and A Song of Peace. This initiative
will continue on in 2021 with rotating
karakia/prayers/songs/poems/readings/silent meditation and thoughts on good
governance from amongst our wide variety of faith and belief communities here
in the Waikato. Our humanist and secular groups will also be represented. We
hope that this initiative will stay with us well into the future. | | Celebrating the Temple of Understanding's 60th Anniversary | Celebrating
the Temple of Understanding's 60th Anniversary
FORUM2020: Science,
Spirituality, the Climate Emergency and Our Future &
Global Interfaith Prayer Service for the Earth
Proudly
presented by the Temple of Understanding in
collaboration with Marble Collegiate Church, New York City World religious and
spiritual visionaries, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and youth environmental
activists come together to address the urgency of the climate crisis with
strategies for inspired collective action.
Over forty international speakers will be offering their wisdom
and perspectives through keynote addresses, diverse panels, inspiring prayers
and sacred music.
Free Online Events Oct 16 & 17, 2020 More information and registration here: https://templeofunderstanding.org/ | | New report reveals teaching religion in our schools reduces extremism | New report reveals teaching religion in our schools reduces extremismReligious
Education in schools can strengthen multi-culturalism and reduce extremism in
our wider communities, according to a new report.
The report found schools offering Special Religious Education (SRE), Religious
Instruction (RI) and General Religious Education (GRE) were ideal settings
"for children to develop an understanding of peace and tolerance.” The
goal of teaching students how to live harmoniously with others in a
contemporary and diverse society is a pillar of modern education, said the
report. "Multicultural education is a key instrument in achieving social
cohesion.” The
report was written by world-renowned academics Professor Zehavit Gross (the
UNESCO/Burg Chair in Education in Human Values, Tolerance and Peace at Bar-Ilan
University, Israel) and Professor Emerita Suzanne Rutland, of the University of
Sydney.
The report highlighted the recent mass shootings in New Zealand, suicide
bombings in Sri Lanka and the San Diego synagogue shooting as potential topics
of discussion among students. For example, religious education teachers could
discuss the fear and concern which affected Muslim, Christian and Jewish
students in Australia, the report found. Removing in-faith education from
government schools detracts from the government's multicultural aims by denying
students a crucial avenue to explore their own religious identity and heritage.
The report found SRE and GRE played a key role in dismantling stereotypes and
strengthening social cohesion. Professor Gross said the belief that religion is
irrelevant in a postmodern world is a myth. "Religion continues to play a
major role in our public life and acknowledges the legitimate spiritual needs
of each individual." Professor Rutland said religious belief and
spirituality provide students with an anchor for their individual identities
and contribute meaning to their lives. A strong grounding in one's individual
identity, combined with knowledge of other religions, helps to combat extremism
by teaching respect for diversity. Christian SRE CEO Murray Norman said it was
vital students were provided with a safe place to explore their religious
identities.
August 22, 2019 by J-Wire Newsdesk
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