Download religious harmony & interfaith dialogue

RELIGIOUS HARMONY,
ECUMENISM &
INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
SOR Foundation Study 2
Examples of ECUMENISM
• Formation of the Uniting Church
• 1977 U.C. established
• 1901 – Presbyterian General
Assembly invited the idea of a
“united Evangelical Church of
Australia”
ECUMENISM
• Basic union of Methodist, most
Presbyterians and
Congregationalists.
• Viewed as a ‘church to address
life & social justice in Australia.’
Interfaith Dialogue
• The fifth world assembly of
World Conference on Religion
and Peace (WCRP) in Melbourne
in 1989 was a turning point for
inter-religious relations in
Australia.
Interfaith Dialogue
• At a National Level –
• U.C. has established working
groups on relations with jews
and Muslims
• Cath. Church has a committee
for Ecumenical & Interfaith
Relations
Interfaith Dialogue
• At a National Level –
• The Council of Christians & Jews
has continued to expand and has
developed a strong national
structure.
• The Commission for Dialogue with
Living Faith and Community
Relations has become more focused.
Interfaith Dialogue
• At a National Level –
• Many of these groups are
reinforced by similar state
groups.
• Others Groups include; Women’s
Dialogue Network (NSW) formed
under the auspices of Christian
– Muslim Relations
Interfaith Dialogue
• Catholic & Muslim Women’s
Ass. (NSW)
• Universities have Multifaith
Centres
Interfaith Dialogue
• Cooperation among religious
leaders
• In early part of last century
social commentary was the
domain of the Christian Church
• In recent time views have been
sought from other faiths
Interfaith Dialogue
• Cooperation among religious
leaders
• Community issues Bankstown &
Lakemba Area
• Buddhist on the far north coast
• Mabo Ruling
Interfaith Dialogue
• Cooperation among religious
leaders
• 1902 Mt Kembla Mining Diaster
• September 11 2001
• Bali 12 2002
• Iraq
Interfaith Dialogue
• Cooperation among religious
leaders
• With the assistance of WCRP,
the council of Aboriginal
Reconciliation brought together
representatives from various
faith communities in support of
reconciliation.
Interfaith Dialogue
• Cooperation among religious
leaders
• In January 2000, Interfaith
Appeal for Peace was staged in
Sydney to stand against
religious violence in Indonesia.
• Initiated by the NCCA & Aust.
Federation of Islamic Councils
Interfaith Dialogue
• Cooperation among religious
leaders
• The plight of refugees in Aust.
And provision of community
services are two other areas
where joint statements have
been issued.
RELIGIOUS HARMONY
• There is potential for
disharmony!
• Overseas events can affect
relations between faith
communities and broad
acceptance across religious
groups will be complex & often
strained:
RELIGIOUS HARMONY
• There is potential for
disharmony!
• Palestinian – Israeli conflict
• War in Iraq
• Tension in Indonesia
• Al Qaeda (Bin Laden)
RELIGIOUS HARMONY
• Another potential cause for
disharmony is the desire of
some Christian churches to
maintain their privileged
position in Australia society.
• High moral ground – ‘ Extra
ecclesia nulla salvas ’
RELIGIOUS HARMONY
• In 1995 Wollongong Anglican
Bishop Piper, was among the
religious leaders who attended
the opening the Nan Tien
Buddhist Temple in Wollongong.
RELIGIOUS HARMONY
• Seven months later, he said that
Buddhism had no place in
Australian Society because it
was outside the framework of
the bible view of man kind; and
therefore evil.
RELIGIOUS HARMONY
• On current statistical trends, Aust.
Will remain predominately a
Christian Society for a very long time
• Many Aust. Have come to recognize
that the values & hopes to which
they aspire to most are shared just
as strongly as those who may be
from a different religion/ culture