Interfaith Reflection

Vatican sends greeting for Hindu feast of Deepavali

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue sends a message to all Hindus on the occasion of Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights.

Ramadan reflections

As our second Ramadan of the pandemic approaches, I’ve been reflecting on the last year, and thinking about what lies ahead. Last Ramadan was extremely challenging for many in our community.

“A solidarity woven into life by God’s mercy”

LWF General Secretary writes foreword to new publication by Pope Francis

Interfaith Academy is now accepting applications for the Interfaith Minister Program in Hawaii and on-line. If interested, call us at 225-270-0764 but do recall the time difference in Hawaii. Alternatively, send an email to tlynch@interfaithacademy.org. On the registration page, just click on the red words for more information.

Interfaith: Building Bridges Across and Among Religions

If we wish a harmonious world, those bridges are important as are deeper understandings of faiths other than your own.

Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity - A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During COVID-19 and Beyond

Indonesian priest takes interfaith road on environmental awareness

Bandung's Eco-Learning Camp transcends the religious divide to convey the urgency needed to save the planet

Caodaism and Bahaism

The Concept of Unity in Bahaism and Caodaism: A Comparative Study

From smiling at strangers to feeding those in need: What different faiths say about kindness

From acts of charity to compassionate thoughts, kindness takes many forms in the lives of these believers. Here, ABC Life talks to believers from several different faiths about practicing kindness.

Feast of Vesakh: An opportunity for compassion and fraternity

In a message for the Buddhist feast of Vesakh, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue invites Buddhists and Christians to promote a culture of compassion and fraternity.

Message for the feast of Vesakh 2020

Message of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue for the Feast of Vesakh/Hanamatsuri 2020, 02.04.2020

MESSAGE FOR THE MONTH OF RAMADAN AND ‘ID Al-FITR 1441 H. / 2020 A.D.

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

Christians and Muslims:
Protecting together the places of worship

Message for the feast of Vesakh 2019

On behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, I extend warm greetings and prayerful good wishes for your celebration of Vesakh. May it bring joy and peace to all of you, and to your families and your communities.

Writing group on Ecumenical Considerations for Buddhist-Christian Dialogue meets in Geneva

A group of clergy, interfaith practitioners and scholars met in Geneva from 26-27 November to produce a document outlining ecumenical considerations for Buddhist-Christian relations and dialogue. Taking into account the significant presence and the increasing influence of Buddhism across the world and particularly among its member churches,...

Message to Hindus for the Feast of Deepavali - Hope among families

“Christians and Hindus: Promoting hope among families” is the theme of the Message of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to the Hindu faithful on the occasion of thef Feast of Deepavali to be celebrated on 30 October, 2016.

Thailand needs to give up the ghosts

Critics of the kingdom's superstitious culture say belief in spirits is an obsession holding the nation back

'Ema': Japan’s Tradition of Votive Prayer Plaques

Visitors to Japan’s shrines and temples cannot miss the hundreds of wooden votive plaques hanging on stands in a reserved area outside on the shrine grounds. On one side of the plaques are prayers inscribed by other visitors—for good health, protection from...

The Importance of Interfaith Dialogue: A Buddhist perspective

Interfaith Dialogue a Buddhist Perspective an Examination of Pope John Paul II's Crossing the Threshold of Hope a talk given at the Intermonastic Dialogue Gethsemani Monastery, Louisville, Kentucky July, 1996 by Ven. Havanpola Ratanasara, Ph.D.

Jesus and Buddha as Brothers - Thich Nhat Hanh

Reprinted with permission from 'Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers' by Thich Nhat Hanh, Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1999.

La femme dans les religions (1)

Quand Dieu était une femme: Je me suis lancée dans ce travail sans idée préconçue et sans adhérer à aucune chapelle. C'est progressivement que s'est dégagée une évidence : depuis vingt siècles, seul le Christ dialogue avec les femmes. Dans les Évangiles, Jésus de Nazareth ...

Témoignage d'une jeune membre de la commission pour le dialogue interreligieux

On venait de fêter l'anniversaire de la commission, cela m'avait laissé une impression forte et durable, l'écho de cette journée continuait à résonner en moi. J'ai voulu écrire ce que je ressentais au fil du temps pour ne pas oublier.

Restoring respect for an indigenous Korean religion

“Shamanism is a native religion of Korea since its national foundation, and it has played a pivotal role in helping people,” said Lee Seong-jae, one of an estimated 200,000 practicing shamans in the nation of about 50 million people.

Religious Harmony, Compassion, and Islam

I would like to say something concerning religious harmony. Sometimes, conflicts involve religious faiths. For instance, previously in Northern Ireland, although the conflict was basically a political issue, it quickly became a religious issue. This was very unfortunate. Today, followers of Shia and Sunni are also sometimes fighting each other. This too is very unfortunate.

Why should Engage in Dialogue?

Because many get the impression that intereligious dialogue in confined to formal dialogue sessions which take place amongst elites in conference halls, it is important that the various types and categories of dialogue be spelled out....

What is Interreligous Dialogue?

If a statement is necessary to define interreligous dialogue, it might go something like this : “A conversation between persons of different minds, where the dialogue-parners cmoe to learn from the other, to witness to the other, as well as to convert the other.”

Can we pray together?

Others insist that while their prayers may be sincere, a “proper understanding of God” is necessary in order for the prayer to be effective, which of course thay do not find in other traditions. At the extreme end there are those who even today would claim that prayers not directed through Christ are “misguided” and are “of the devil”...

Dialogue of Spirituality

Little wonder, I told myself, that while the Hindu can worship in five minutes, we must take an hour or more, and that on each occasion the sermon must make up for all that is lacking, in order to enable those present to “rise to the awareness of standing in the presence of God”...