National Interfaith Forum Continues to it’s Second Day
On 28th June, the National Interfaith Forum entered it’s second day of discussion. Agendas raised on the day included:
1. Promoting multicultural religion among the community
2. Creating peace from religious faith
3. Education for the heart in 21st century New Zealand
4. Promoting education on multicultural religion among the schools
5. Harmony between science and religion
6. Dialogue between Islam and Christianity in Australia’s Catholic University
7. New Zealand’s multicultural religious achievement for 2013
8. Continuous challenges toward education for the heart
9. Establishing agendas for multicultural religions
These discussion were participated by over 150 representatives from different religions. The organiser also especially arranged for youth representatives from Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism to speak about their personal experiences of self-improvement and benefit for others through their respective faith. Then another group discussion was centred around the topic of “how to promote religious values through social media and modern communication technology?”
Later during the evening banquet, Reverend DR Lord Leslie Griffiths of the English Wesley Chapel shared his experience of providing aids and reconstruction work after the Haitian earthquake. He suggested that co-operation is the critical factor for multiculturalism for religious faith. By using the essence and doctrine of each respective religion, interfaith dialogue can be achieved, therefore continuing a free, equal and peaceful co-existence with each other’s faith. Inspector Rakesh Naidoo was also invited to speak about Venerable Abbess Manshin’s role as Chaplain for the Police College Wing 261; where values of religious faith were expressed through elevating the wisdom and mental qualities of the cadets. He also shared personal experiences of experiencing religious differences within work and family and current police initiative of promoting religion and ethnic harmony.
The Forum was completed with unique prayers from each different participating religion to wish for world peace and peace between different religions from tolerance and understanding.