“It’s important that, as we begin the New Year, look forward,” said His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a New Year’s day address. “We should project our intention ahead, so that we make this year a meaningful one.
News
World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018
The World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2010 by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan. Just under a month later, on October 20, 2010, it was unanimously adopted by the UN and henceforth the first week of February will be observed as a World Interfaith Harmony Week.
BBC to increase religious coverage to better represent all faiths
The BBC is set to increase its coverage of religions after a year-long review found that people of all faiths were “often absent, poorly presented or satirised”, according to reports.
OIC-KAICIID Conference Issues Joint Statement on Interreligious Dialogue in South and South-East Asia
The Conference on Interreligious Dialogue in South and Southeast Asia organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) in Bangkok, Thailand, from 18 to 20 December 2017 issued the Bangkok Joint Statement that calls for boosting local, national and regional collaboration on interfaith coexistence.
Victoria: Eternity-Buddha in Nirvana …
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, Australia, has unveiled Eternity-Buddha in Nirvana, an 18-meter-long sleeping Buddha statue covered in replicas of famous Western sculptures.
Christmas star: Beautiful slow-moving meteor recorded over the Mediterranean Sea
A slow-moving meteor was observed and recorded falling over the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday, December 23, 2017. The event lasted about 14 seconds before the object disintegrated in a bright flash.
How did England’s Victorian Muslims celebrate Christmas?
On December 25, 1888, Hymns praising the birth of the Prophet Isa, or Jesus, rung out through the Liverpool Mosque. By evening, numbers swelled. Word had got around, and the Muslims offered a “substantial tea” and small musical concert to the visitors. Read more about England’s first Mosque.
Interfaith Holiday Books for Kids
For inhabitants of the northern hemisphere, autumn features increasingly shorter days as we move inexorably toward the longest night of the year around December 21. Interestingly, many cultures and faith traditions have long-standing traditions and stories that lift up light during this time of relative darkness. For Neo-Pagans/Wiccans and other indigenous peoples, it’s Winter Solstice, for Jews, Hanukkah, for the ancient Romans, Saturnalia, for Christians, Christmas, and for African-Americans, Kwanzaa, just to name a few.
Bishop Suriel Writes Inspiring Book on Educational Reformer Habib Girgis
More than ever, the world needs strong leaders, committed teachers and people filled with a life purpose. Such was the life embodied by a humble Coptic gentleman named Habib Girgis, who was born in Cairo in 1876 and lived in Egypt until 1951. There is much to be learnt from this man as highlighted in a new book by Leader of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne, Bishop Suriel.
Ground-breaking Jewish/Christian/Muslim dialogue holds its 50th session
The Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims Jews (ANDCMJ) celebrated its 50th session by revisiting its history, discussing the concept of “light” in Christian, Jewish and Muslim liturgy and tradition, then lighting Chanukah candles and learning about the Jewish Festival of Lights, at Sydney’s Emanuel Synagogue.
NSW: No Reason not to Stand in Court, Muslims advised
Australian Muslims have no religious reason not to stand before a judge or uncover their faces while giving testimony, according to the Australian National Imams Council.
Buddhism: How You Can Support a Victim of Clergy Sexual Misconduct
Clergy sexual misconduct is defined as sexual advances or propositions made by religious leaders to a person in the congregations they serve (who are not their spouses or significant others). Misconduct includes such actions as minor as a proposition, up to and including sexual intercourse. Buddhist sanghas are as prone to this kind of misconduct as any other religious community.
