Australia’s Catholic bishops say peace is possible if people commit to speaking the truth and redouble efforts to end war. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has released the Social Justice Statement for 2024-25, titled Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World. Every year, the bishops seek to make a substantive comment on a key social issue and this year the focus is on the promotion of peace and the need for truth in public life.
NSW: International Day of Peace Interfaith Prayer Service 2024
To celebrate this day, you are cordially invited to join the 21st Interfaith Prayer Service on Saturday, 21 September 2024, at 3 pm at Knox Cultural Centre, Knox Grammar School, 2 Borambil Street, Wahroonga 2076 (a stone’s throw distance from Warrawee Train Station).
2024 World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel
During the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel 2024, observed 16-22 (includes the UN International Day of Peace on 21 September), church organisations, congregations, and people of faith are encouraged to bear a common witness by participating in worship services, educational events, and acts of support in favour of peace and justice for Palestinians and Israelis. The World Council of Churches has newly published resources for the 2024 World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel.
Reflection on Refugee Policy – General and Specific
Australia is a land of settlement – and refuge – for people from many nations. The recent conflict in Gaza / Israel has reached out to Australia and to those who have settled here. The debate over immigration and visas from this region – along with the forthcoming Day of Prayer for Refugees has inspired Bishop Philip Huggins to reflect on Australia’s refugee policy from both a national perspective, and from the fruits of his personal involvement with refugees.
Positive Peace: Religions and Peace
Meet Positive Peace, the post-COVID recovery framework. Created by the non-partisan and internationally renowned think-tank the Institute for Economics & Peace, this free short course introduces the transformational framework — Positive Peace. Rethink peace with the Institute’s data driven approach and discover how Positive Peace is associated with better performance on ecological sustainability, improved wellbeing, stronger GDP growth rates and better business outcomes.
Family violence conference
Ten Commitments to Prevent Violence – Australian Anglican Program hill hold a conference on September 2-3, for everyone who wants to learn more about what churches can do to prevent violence against women, what initiatives are working for churches and how we can best care for those impacted by domestic violence.
Kamala, a common name in India, is associated with several deities and is a symbol of wisdom
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Ever since Vice President Kamala Harris became a presence on the national scene, her name – a common one for women in India – has attracted a lot of attention, most specifically for its pronunciation. Kamala as a word in Hinduism has significant associations with divinity, response to divinity and worship. One form of surrender to divinity is charana kamala.
NSW: Baha’i Prayer Event – To Build a Better Community
The local Baha’i community of Parramatta is inviting leaders of the various faiths, community groups and organisations in Parramatta to a multifaith prayer gathering on 29 August 2024. The theme is “To Build a Better Community” and it is focused on reaching out to build bonds of fellowship and friendship between the diverse local communities in the area.
Imagining World Leaders – The Future we Seek
Bishop Philip Huggins calls us to imagine world leaders sitting together in stillness and silence, meditating, in preparation for deep and healing dialogue towards an enchanting and sustained world peace. There is a wisdom that says ‘what we can imagine, we can create!’
Call for Papers—“Handbook of Traditional Spirituality and Sustainability”
An emergent issue is the link between ecology and faith, spirituality and sustainability, the environment and the future we leave to those who will come after us. The University of the Sunshine Coast in collaboration with Springer, is seeking contributions for a Handbook of Traditional Spirituality and Sustainability.
NSW: Buddhist Studies Seminar
The Australian Association of Buddhist studies will hold its next event on on Thursday 22 August in the Rogers Room (N397), John Wooley Building (A20), University of Sydney. The topic will address The Words and World of Gebchak Nunnery: Tantric Meditation in Context. This will be a hybrid session.
The Significance of Progressive Islam
At the heart of progressive islam lies a fundamental commitment to reinterpreting the islamic tradition in light of modern sensibilities, values and epistemological frameworks. Rather than clinging rigidly to the rulings and interpretations of dominant forms of classical islamic jurisprudence, progressive muslims engage in a dynamic process of re-examining foundational islamic texts, principles and historical precedents through the prism of contemporary ethical, social and political realities.
