Theologies of inclusion tend to be feel good, ‘nice’ theologies and more importantly they promote social cohesion by providing a theological rationale for mutual respect, or at least tolerance of difference. However, there is more, writes Gary Bouma. What of an internal agenda of legitimisation?
News
Messages about Nigeria Bombings
Christians and Muslims are uniting in Nigeria to reject the violence advanced by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
World Interfaith Harmony Week
World Interfaith Harmony Celebration, Australia, 2012 World Interfaith Harmony Week seeks to spread the message of harmony and tolerance among the followers of all the world’s religions, faiths and beliefs. It seeks to do this by promoting their common basis of “Love of God and Love of the Neighbor, or Love of the Good and … Read more
Does religious faith make people healthier and happier?
A recent VicHealth study showed that while religion can protect against illness, religious discrimination can harm health. This has led to a renewed call to embrace and respect religious diversity, protection of human rights and promotion of interfaith relations between religions.
Statement of the Moderator and the Secretary General on the Church Bombings in Nigeria
Religions for Peace condemns and deplores the terrorist attacks across Nigeria which killed scores of people, with the majority dying on the steps of a Catholic Church after celebrating Christmas Mass.
ACARA-REENA Roundtable
On the 16th November 2011, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), in partnership with the Religion and Ethics Education Network Australia (REENA) convened a Roundtable on the ‘Place of Religion and Ethics in the National Curriculum’.
Restoring Dignity – A committment to end violence against Women
The world’s major faith traditions – each in its own way – uphold the inviolable dignity of the human being as rooted in the Sacred. While respecting religious differences, the Restoring Dignity draws on the commitment and resources of faith congregations, institutions, communities and individual believers to bring an end to violence against women and girls. Join us to end violence and restore dignity of women.
Religion, Women and Peacebuilding Seminar Series Launched
The Religions for Peace Global Women of Faith Network, in collaboration with United Nations Women, Princeton University Office for Religious Life, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Ford Foundation, The Salvation Army International Social Justice Commission, The Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations and The Institute for Global Engagement, launched an ongoing seminar on “Religion, Women and Peacebuilding” on Tuesday December 6th 2011.
The Assisi Event, Interfaith Cooperation and Freedom of Religion in Australia
Occasional address given in Hobart on 4th December, 2011 at an interfaith event organised by the Tasmanian branch of Religions for Peace Australia for Human Rights Week.
FROM 9/11 TO BREIVIK:Responding Nationally and Transnationally to the challenge of Diversity and Social Cohesion
Prof. Des Cahill, Chair, Religions for Peace Australia, delivered a keynote address, From 9/11 to Breivik: Responding nationally and transnationally to the challenge of diversity and social cohesion at the University of Western Sydney Campus, Bankstown, NSW, on 9 October 2011.
Interfaith Forum on Violence against Women
Religious leaders and family violence practioners from the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian traditions addressed faith responses to violence against women at a forum held at the Islamic Centre of Victoria, on the eve of International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women.
Australian religious education ’19th century’
RELIGION and ethics taught from a secular perspective might well be included in the new national curriculum, according to Professor Barry McGaw, head of the board responsible for the curriculum.