Canberra Interfaith Forum in collaboration with Religions for Peace Australia are pleased to invite you to our 2025 World Interfaith Harmony Week Lecture at Parliament House, Canberra, on 5 February 2025. This will be a hybrid event, in person and Zoom. The Presenter will be Prof. Dr. Anne Patel-Gray, and the topic of this event will be Acknowledging Respect & Inclusion of Indigenous Nations Spirituality: In a Nation that Embraces Many Diverse Cultures and Faiths.
Human Rights Watch, Jewish Council of Australia, Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Australian National Imams Council, Human Rights Law Centre and Amnesty International condemn a recent spate of antisemitic hate crimes in Australia. A joint statement from these faith bodies and human rights bodies has been issued.
Tim Costello is a well known pastor of the Baptist Church, and a senior fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. He is a strong advocate for gambling reform, and for care of the poor and homeless in our communities. Looking beyond the headline issues and tag-wrestling politics, Tim Costello shares some sober reflections on social cohesion.
The Family of Michael Leunig and St Paul’s Cathedral will hold a Memorial Service to Honour and Celebrate the life of Michael Leunig on 30 January 2025, at 2:00pm. Entry to the Cathedral will commence from 1:00pm. This Memorial Service will provide an opportunity for family, friends, and the Victorian Community to come together to remember Michael’s remarkable life and the lasting impact made on us all.
A healthy approach to religion highly values aesthetics and the role of creativity in spiritual expression. The aesthetic dimension of religious traditions can profoundly shape individual and communal experiences of the divine. Art, music, architecture, and literature have historically served as powerful vehicles for conveying spiritual truths, fostering emotional connections, and enriching worship practices. Here, a progressive Muslim theologian addresses critera for spiritual growth and inclusivity.
Dr Francis Kuria, Secretary General of Religions for Peace International, has issued a statement on the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. The Holy Land holds a profound significance for billions around the world, and it is our collective duty to ensure that a shared peace defines its future.
The Victorian Council of Churches has issued a statement on the Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal. Previously, the Victorian Council of Churches has told, inter alia, “In the land sacred to the three great Abrahamic religions, the ongoing cycle of violence and revenge must be broken, or the children of today’s children will still suffer in the same way. Justice and peace can only come about when those involved look in their enemy’s face and see a fellow human, whose dignity is no less than theirs and whose life has the same value as their own.”
Racial discrimination is unlawful, rather than criminal, in all Australian states and territories. It means victims must pursue the case themselves. In Tasmania it is Equal Opportunity Tasmania — the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner’s office — that deals with cases of racial discrimination. If a crime, for example an assault, is found to be racially motivated, that motivation can be considered by the judge as an aggravating factor when the perpetrator is sentenced.
Intertextuality refers to the relationships between texts and how they shape and inform one another. In the context of the Quran, this concept encompasses its dialogues with earlier traditions, including Arabian paganism and Judeo-Christian heritage. This relationship is vital for understanding the Quran’s narrative strategies, theological assertions, and ethical prescriptions.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity approaches. Bishop Philip Huggins writes of the Wedding in Cana, and a wedding he celebrated recently at the Mission for the Seafarers. There are recollections about ‘Mary Undoer of Knots’. All these reflections lead to a deep appreciation of the peace we all share in Australia. Consider, there has never been a military war in Australia: that renders the most peaceful nation on Earth. Is not Peace on Earth the mantra of all our religions?
World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay welcomed the news of a ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas. Human Rights lawyers and 18 NGO’s in the UK also welcome this resolution.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will take place from 18-25 January, and churches and Christian communities worldwide are invited to use the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 resources in seven languages, including a child-friendly version.
Quaker United Nations Office has released a new resource guide on the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment to celebrate the recently recognized right. This easy-to-read guide answers 8 questions to help empower each of us as individuals and members of our communities to advocate for our rights, participate in decision making, and hold our governments to their agreed responsibilities.
