News

Interfaith dialogue promotes holistic reflection on climate change on eve of COP27 in Egypt

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Dialogue in Egypt

6 November 2022, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt: Religious leaders and representatives of ecumenical organizations gather for a Talanoa dialogue at the eve of COP27 in Egypt. The dialogue seeks to address how faith-based communities can contribute to the work to address the evermore urgent climate emergency, and in 2022 is held at Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, or The Heavenly Cathedral, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, home to congregants of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert


On the day before the official opening of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, representatives from different faiths gathered at Qesm Sharm Ash Sheikh, or The Heavenly Cathedral, home to congregants of the Coptic Orthodox Church, to share their perspectives on the climate crisis.

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Invitation to attend COP27 Side Event– Realizing Ambition through Ethical, Intergenerational and Multisectoral Responses to Climate Crises

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Realizing Ambition through Ethical, Intergenerational and Multisectoral Responses to Climate Crises

We are pleased to invite you to the side event at COP27 “Realizing Ambition through Ethical, Intergenerational and Multisectoral Responses to Climate Crises” taking place on Wednesday, 9 November 2022, from 15:00—16:30 EET at Room 6 – Osiris Room, located in the Blue Zone. You may also attend online with a Youtube link.

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Aligning finances with your Faith: Banking Workshop

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Australian Religious Response to Climate Change logoCome learn, share and discuss within an ARRCC multi faith group on aligning your finances with your faith to protect the planet by divesting from fossil fuels. The interactive sessions run for 90 minutes on Zoom. These interactive sessions will take place on Thursday 10 November and Friday 11 November.

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Perth religious leaders take public stance against new coal and gas projects

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Religious leaders of multiple faiths in Perth

A multi-faith church service was held in Perth is part of a wider call across Australia for an end to new coal and gas projects.

The Australian Religious Response to Climate Change group has organised the event.

About 100 religious leaders have urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to make a stronger commitment to climate change at the upcoming United Nations conference in November

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Mega-cities and Climate Change – the Role of Religious Leaders

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Prof Desmond CahillOn 4th AUGUST, 2022, about 2,000 people, including 24 delegates from 18 countries of Buddhism, Shintoism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Zoroastrianism came together in Japan at an inter-faith “Interreligious Gathering of Prayer for World Peace”. The event marked the 35th anniversary of the first ‘Religious Summit’ held on Mount Hiei in 1987. Moderator of Religions for Peace Asia, Emeritus Professor Desmond Cahill OAM delivered a talk on Megacities and Climate Change – The Role of Religious Leaders.

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Australia drops opposition to treaty banning nuclear weapons at UN vote

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Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Australia has dropped its opposition to a landmark treaty banning nuclear weapons in a vote at the United Nations in New York on Saturday.

While Australia was yet to actually join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the shift in its voting position to “abstain” after five years of “no” is seen by campaigners as a sign of progress given the former Coalition government repeatedly sided with the United States against it.

The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said through a spokesperson that Australia had “a long and proud commitment to the global non-proliferation and disarmament regime” and that the government supported the new treaty’s “ambition of a world without nuclear weapons”.

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Faithful Peace: Why the Journey to Build Resilience is Multi-Religious

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Faithful Peace: Why the Journey to Build Resilience is Multi-Religious

Religions for Peace and the Standing Commission on Interreligious Education are proud to launch our latest publication, Faithful Peace: Why the Journey to Build Resilience is Multi-Religious.

With Christian, Hindu, Indigenous, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh theologies, perspectives, and insights, this brilliant and enlightening piece of work explores the importance of multi-religious engagement and why this effort to bring people of all faiths and traditions together, can and does create a more peaceful world.

Prof. Azza Karam, Secretary General and Editor-in-Chief, as well as Programme Officer of Partnerships and Interreligious Education, Dr. Karen Leslie Hernandez and Editor of this publication, invite you to read, learn, think, and thrive in these multi-religious viewpoints from eight Interreligious Education Standing Commission members including – Dr. Pritpal Kaur Ahluwalia, Dr. Luigi De Salvia, Ms. Pascale Frémond, Dr. Johannes Läehnemann, Dr. Anantanand Rambachan, Dr. Lilian J. Sison, Dr. Nayla Tabbara, and Rabbi Dr. Burton Visotzky.

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When it comes to forgiveness, faith and science agree on the benefits

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Forgive(RNS) — Forgiveness is an age-old practice central to the teaching of many of the world’s religions. In Islam, forgiveness suggests alignment with Allah. In Judaism, acts of atonement — or Teshuva — are expected for wrongdoing. In Christianity, forgiveness is unconditional, by loving one’s enemies as oneself.

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Religious groups call for education on swastikas before ban on Nazi symbol comes into effect

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Vishnu idol with svaasti symbol
A religious swastika is drawn above a deity at Sri Vakrathunda Vinayagar Temple in The Basin.(ABC News: Kristian Silva)

Religious leaders say they are frustrated the Victorian government has stalled on a promised education campaign about the ancient meaning of the swastika, weeks before it becomes a criminal offence to publicly display the Nazi symbol.

From December 29, people in Victoria who display the Nazi symbol — also known as the Hakenkreuz — could face 12 months in jail and a $22,000 fine.

The laws will not be applied to faith communities who use similar-looking religious swastikas, but some fear they will wrongly be accused of supporting Nazi ideology.

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Launch of Religions for Peace Northern Territory Branch

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Launch of Religions for Peace Northern Territory BranchOn October 19, Dr Edwin Joseph, the NT Convener of Religions for Peace Australia, it gives me immense pleasure to witness the official launch of the Northern Territory Chapter hosted by the NT Speaker Hon Mark Monaghan MLA: Member for Fong Lim at the Parliament House. Great to have representatives coming together from several faiths like Jew, Sikh, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Bahai, etc.

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