OzSpirit: Peace

Peace

Issue 95

Inter-faith Dialogue: Talking up Peace

Have you ever found yourself asking any of the following questions?

"Why are those girls wearing scarves on their heads?"
" What is that man doing wearing a funny looking skull cap?"
" Why do those men wear dresses?"
" Why do those people sing and dance and wear orange?"
" Why do those people sing and dance around a fire?"
" Why does that man have such long hair?"
" Why do all the women in that family down the road have dots on their foreheads?"
" Why would people want to wear a cross around their neck?"
" Why do we hear funny words over the loudspeaker five times a day from that funny looking building?"
" Why does that bell ring at 12:00?"
" Why do those men and women shave their heads and always bow?"

All of the above questions relate to religion. Though they may seem "silly" they are important.

They are important because it is through seeking to find answers to such queries that we will be able to learn about each other and our different faiths. If we don't try and answer the questions we may never find out about each other, we may even fear each other and possibly even grow to dislike and hate each other.

In trying to understand each other and find answers to simple and complex questions, we will be encouraging respect for each other. With this respect we can hopefully become more peaceful and tolerant people, less likely to fear and hate.

Boy

In our world today many people remain divided from one another and in conflict. Often the causes of such conflicts are based on rivalries that have been passed on from generation to generation. Most people remain divided because they do not understand each other and therefore fear each other. It is because of this that we must seek to learn about each other, in particular to learn about the different faiths and traditions which we all follow. We must overcome fear and build bridges to peace.

So how do we find answers to these questions? The simplest answer is to ask people; to talk to each other, to inquire and explore, to share different ideas and compare and contrast the different ways we think and act. This type of talking is called Inter-Faith Dialogue. However, it is not always easy, in fact it is probably scary, to approach a person and ask why they do and act the way they do. But really, what is there to be afraid of? We need to remember that we are all just people. At the same time community and government leaders need to take some responsibility and initiate Inter-faith dialogues. We need to set up occasions where people from different faiths can get together and learn about each other and where we can talk to each other, to feel free enough to ask the "silly" and "obvious" questions.

It is fantastic that inter-faith initiatives are being set up for children and adults across Australia. The teaching and learning activities will help you to explore some of these initiatives and to become involved in learning about men and women from all different faiths. Religious intolerance and indifference has been at the basis of many of the world's atrocities. It is therefore essential that we try and overcome these differences and seek to understand each other. To create a peaceful world we must build bridges between our different faiths by sharing our lives, our history and our religions with each other.

Young girl

1) This year the award for the National Multicultural Marketing Award grand prize for 2004 was won by 'The Goodness and Kindness' project which is an innovative approach to teaching children about religious diversity in New South Wales schools. Go to the following site and complete the activities about the project: www.crc.nsw.gov.au/#mma

What is the aim of The Goodness and Kindness Project?
How many schools have taken part in the project?
What types of schools have participated in the project?
How many children have been targeted and in which types of schools?
What did the 'Goodness and Kindness Project' do for Harmony Day 2004?

2) The World Council of Churches stated that:
"Dialogue begins with a single act - one person's decision to be open to another person of a different religious tradition. In many places small beginnings have resulted in the growth of communities that have built strong ties across religious barriers."

Think of an incident in your own life where a small act has resulted in overcoming a problem or a conflict. Describe what happened.
Why do you think that talking with people from different religions can help make the world more peaceful?
Go to the following site www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/
what/interreligious/77glines-e.html#part3 and scroll down to the section 'Guidelines for dialogue'. Write down the 13 recommendations that the WCC puts forward to people planning to have interfaith dialogues.

3) The Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims, and Jews is an important group facilitating interfaith dialogue in Australia. Go to the following site and complete the activities. www.ncca.org.au/partnerships/interfaith_partners

Name the three partners of the group
What is the purpose of the group?
Name two objectives, two strategies and two actions of the group.

4. The City of Canterbury in NSW hosted the Canterbury Interfaith Harmony Project this year. Go to the following site and answer the following questions:
www.canterbury.nsw.gov.au/interfaith/

Which World Religions are represented in Canterbury?
Why do you think dialogue is of particular importance in this area?
What were some of the highlights of the program?

English

1) The Journey of Promise is an important interfaith dialogue initiative. Go to the following site and read about what the Journey of Promise is:
www.ncca.org.au/dov/journey_of_promise.
Imagine you have been asked to attend a conference with the Journey of Promise for 2005. Write a letter to the National Council of Churches explaining why you would like to be a part of the journey. In your letter you will need to outline:

Why inter-faith dialogue is important
What you can offer to the discussions.
Why you think this program can help people in Australia be more respectful of each other?

Religious Education

1) In his book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, made the following observations: "what unites us is much greater than what separates us ... It is necessary ... to rid ourselves of stereotypes, of old habits And above all, it is necessary to recognise the unity that already exists."

What do you think unites all people?
What are some of the old habits that we need to rid ourselves of in order to be a more peaceful global community?
What are some examples of where unity already exists in our global community?

1) In 1964 Pope Paul VI established the Secretariat for Non-Christians which is now named The Pontifical Council for Inter religious Dialogue. Go to the following official site:
www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/
interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_19051991_
dialogue-and-proclamatio_en.html

Click on the site and scroll down to point (4) Current Affairs. Read through and discuss the various issues raised in this section.
Scroll down to points 51 and 52 and read through. Discuss the various obstacles to interfaith dialogue as defined by the Catholic Church. Do you agree or disagree?
How can you become involved in interfaith dialogue?

The Beatitudes and Justice paper written by Gerard Moore SM is a paper produced by the Catholic Social Justice Council of Australia. It explores the relationship between The Beatitudes and Justice. Contained in the paper is an insightful exploration of the beatitude 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God'. To order a copy for $6.60 plus postage go to the following site:
www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/content/
publications/social_justice_papers.html

Order your 2005 Social Justice Diary from the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council. The focus for 2005 is: Living the Gospel in Today's Society. Each month particular social justice issues, theme and events are identified and developed. Cost: $6.60 plus postage. Go to: www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/CONTENT/
publications/social_justice_calendar.html to order.