Initiatives of Change (Australia) will facilitate a Community Trust Building event at the Multifaith Centre, Nathan Campus, Griffith University on Saturday August 31.
NSW: Buddhist Studies August Seminars
The Australasian Association of Buddhist Studies notifies that Prof. Michael Zimmerman from the University of Hamburg is the holder of the 2019 University Buddhist Education Foundation (UBEF) Visiting Professorship in Buddhist Studies. As part of this Professorship, he will deliver a series of lectures at the University of Sydney.
.
ABC Australia: What’s the point of interfaith dialogue?
Peaceful solutions to the world’s problems are hard to find — and religious tensions are part of the problem. What needs to happen so we can all share in the bounty of peace? The ABC Australia’s James Carleton joins a panel of three people who have made interfaith dialogue their life’s work.
USCIRF Applauds Announced Changes to Saudi Male Guardianship System
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed changes to Saudi Arabia’s laws that decrease restrictions imposed on women by the religiously-grounded male guardianship system. The changes allow women to travel without a guardian’s permission, maintain legal guardianship over their children, and register marriages, births, and divorces.
2018-2019 Annual Report
Professor Desmond Cahill, Chair, Religions for Peace Australia, delivered the Annual Report for Religions for Peace Australia at the Annual General Meeting in Canberra during June 2019. The report is given below.
How should Buddhists respond to the gun violence epidemic?
The Buddha was one of the first great teachers to recognise that in the human realm things happen for a reason. Even the most heinous perpetrators of violent acts are still human beings, acting out of desperation, rage, ideological fervor, or mental illness. While we cannot and should not excuse them, as Buddhists we should avoid dehumanizing or vilifying them to the point that we respond in kind.
NSW: Call for dialogue against violence and hate
The Canterbury Bankstown 13th Annual Interfaith Dinner was held on Tuesday 6 August 2019 with the theme “From Christchurch to Sri Lanka – Interfaith and cultural dialogue against violence and hate”. The event included presentation of awards as well as recognition of Order of Australia for Mr Khodr Saleh OAM.
The Interfaith Dinner, held at Punchbowl Community Centre, was organised by Riverwood Community Centre and Canterbury Bankstown Harmony Group at the invitation of Harmony Group President Khodr Saleh, the former deputy mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown Council and supported by Riverwood Community Centre , Canterbury Bankstown Council and United Muslim Association UMA.
The Jewish Custom of Shiva
Judaism offers a ritualized structure to deal with grief. The first stage, shiva, is intended to see mourners through the first days of intense grief and disorientation. Of course, grief continues long after shiva ends, and Jewish tradition offers additional rituals to support mourners beyond this initial period
Prime Minister meets with Religious Leaders
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has met with 21 leaders of major faith communities in Australia to discuss progress in the government’s plans to introduce a Religious Discrimination Bill later this year.
Bangladesh Religious Leaders Commit to People-to-People Dialogue with Myanmar on the Rohingya Crisis
(August 5, 2019 | Chittagong, Bangladesh) As the political impasse between Bangladesh and Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis deepens and tensions between local communities and Rohingya refugees are escalating, over 70 Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian leaders, women of faith and youth leaders in Bangladesh convened a National Consultation for the RfP 10th World Assembly in Chittagong, Bangladesh on 3 August 2019.
Victoria: A Night with Osamah Sami
Join the Jewish Christian Muslim Association for a night of conversation with writer, actor and poet Osama Sami, including a showing of the film based on his story, ‘Ali’s Wedding’ at the Knox Lecture Theatre on 24 August 2019.
“Gun Violence Must End Now:” World Council of Churches stands in solidarity with USA churches
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is standing in solidarity with the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and WCC member churches in the USA as they demand an end to gun violence, racist rhetoric, and white supremacy.
