Advising of an event just passed. A Prayer Meeting for World Peace.

45 participants from a variety of faith traditions joined together again to share prayers and readings as part of the Week OF Prayer for World Peace.

The gathering was held last Sunday afternoon at the Knox Church Centre in Bealey Avenue (19/10/03). This was an opportunity to jointly express our desires for non-violent answers to world tensions.

This event was organised by the Interfaith Coalition for Understanding(Christchuuch).The programme consisted of prayers and readings relating to peace from various religious traditions, read by representatives of those traditions.

Dr. Bill Shepard introduced the prayer meeting. He reminded us that the Millennium Resolution included, "Forgiveness of past wrongs, and from now on, a new start".

Among other speakers, Ola Kamel(Ph.343-3632) from the Canterbury Muslim Association reflected ..... "We should concentrate on the similarities between our religions rather than the differences. Acceptance & respect can only be built through continuing communication".

Mr Terran Smith(Ph.359-4910) of the Tibet Buddhist tradition quoted the H.H. Dalai Lama's teaching that "We can not overcome anger and hatred simply by suppressing them. We need to actively cultivate the antidotes, patience and tolerance".

Mrs Diane Downward of the Unification Church & Family Federation for World Peace quoted one of Sun Myung Moon's teachings that "The example of Jesus Christ(forgiving) is the absolute standard for all mankind".

Mr. Isaac Freeman representing the Baha'i faith quoted Abu'l-Baha saying "The divine religions of the holy Manifestations of God are in reality one though in name and nomenclature they differ. Man must be a lover of the light no matter from what day-spring it may appear".

Speakers from 4 Christian denominations, the Brahma Kumaris, Chinese Buddhist, Quaker and Unitarian traditions, also spoke calling for non-violent compassionate answers.

Saying that "Violence & terrorism are incompatible with the authentic spirit of religion", Ms. Kay Knowles from our Interfaith Coalition for Understanding read out the 10 Commitments of the Jan 2003 Decalogue of Assisi for Peace.

The prayer meeting then closed with The International Prayer for Peace.

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