Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith AustraliaSlide 1 INTERFAITH DIALOGUE IN MULTIFAITH AUSTRALIA.

Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith AustraliaSlide 1

INTERFAITH DIALOGUE IN

MULTIFAITH AUSTRALIA


Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

• Religious Affiliations in Australia.

• Importance of understanding other faiths and role Studies of Religion subject plays.

• Muslim perspective; Muslims in Australia

• Interfaith dialogue initiative by Australian Muslims.


Major Religious Affiliations in Australia


Religious Affiliation in 2006 Census

Christianity 63.9%Catholic Anglican Uniting Church Presbyterian and Reformed Eastern Orthodox Baptist Lutheran Pentecostal Other Christian

Non-Christian 5.6%Buddhism Islam Hinduism Judaism Other Non-Christian

No Religion 16.6%

Not stated 11.2%


Growth in Australia’s Non‑Christian Religious Affiliations 1981–2006

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 1981–2006 Census of Population and Housing


Growth in Australia’s Non‑Christian Religious affiliations 2001–2006

Hinduism 55.1%

Non-religion 27.5%

Islam 20.9%

Buddhist 17%

Judaism 6%


Multifaith Australia

• We need to avoid a “clash of ignorance.”

• Education and Interfaith Dialogue are critical for a peaceful society.

• Studies of Religion plays an important role.


Studies of Religion

• Studies of Religion is now the:

– 5th most popular subject

– 13 935 students in 2009

– 20% of all HSC candidates

– Increase from 17% in 2004

• The Studies of Religion II course has grown by:

– 70% since 2004

– from 2341 students to 3979


Peace and Interfaith Dialogue in the Syllabus

• “Evaluate the importance of interfaith dialogue in multifaith Australia”

• “Investigate the understanding of peace and how it is informed through significant writings within sacred texts”

• “Outline the principal teachings about peace in TWO religious traditions”

• “Demonstrate how TWO religious traditions guide the individual in achieving inner peace.”

• “Discuss how TWO religious traditions are contributing to world peace.”


Studies of Religion

• It may be the only opportunity for students to receive factual information about religion.

• An opportunity for students to better understand their own faith.

• An opportunity to learn about other faiths.

• An opportunity to clarify misconceptions.


Global Muslim Population

• 1.57 billion Muslims in the world today,

• 23% of the world population of 6.8 billion. (2009)

(The Pew Forum report, www.pewforum.org)

• 62% of Muslim world population lives in Asia-Pacific region.

• About 13% of the Muslims in the world live in Indonesia (203 million).


Muslims in Australia


Muslims in Australia1.7% of Australia’s population is Muslim which is less than 0.1% of the worlds Muslim population.

Muslims in Australia are ethnically, linguistically and culturally diverse. Nearly 38 per cent of the 340 393 Muslims in Australia were born in Australia.


Muslims in Australia

Birthplace % Birthplace %

Australia 37.9 Bangladesh 3.9

Lebanon 8.9 Iraq 2.9

Turkey 6.8 Indonesia 2.5

Afghanistan 4.7 Bosnia & Herzegovina

2.2

Pakistan 4.1 Iran 2.1

Source: 2006 Census of Population and Housing (Australian Bureau of Statistics)


Australian Muslims by Country of Birth

Australia

LebanonAfghanistan

Pakistan

Indonesia

Iraq

Bangladesh

Iran

Fiji

Cyprus

Somalia

Malaysia

Singapore

South Africa

Kuwait

United Kingdom

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Egypt

Yugoslavia, Federal Republic of

Macedonia, FRYSyria

Sri Lanka

India

JordanAll Other

Turkey

Source: ABS 2001, Census of Population and Housing: Muslim Community Profile: Birthplace of individual: Top 25 (based on total Muslim Population). © Commonwealth of

Australia 2002.


Islam’s Perspective on Interfaith Dialogue


Value of Human Life

• Islam gives great value to human life by saying that killing someone is the same as killing all of humanity and saving one life is like saving the whole of humanity (Qur’an, 5:32).


Diversity Amongst Humankind

“To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If God had so willed, He would have made you a single people...”

(Qur’an 5:48)

Our differences were in God’s plan which gives us reason to engage in dialogue with the purpose of getting to know one another.


“Get to know one another”

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other).”

(Qur’an 49:13)


Standing up for a Jewish Funeral

“Islam respects the humanity of each person, disregarding religion.”

(Al-Qaradawi)

“This action (of the Prophet) demonstrates how highly our Prophet respected every person”.

(Fethullah Gulen)


The Most Important Interaction Between Christians and Muslims

• Visit of the Najran delegation to Medina.

• The whole incident was the first occurrence of peaceful dialogue between Christians and Muslims

• It was the first time that Christians prayed in a mosque.

• Prophet Muhammad provided them with a place to stay in Medina, in a secure place close to his mosque.

• He even ordered that the Muslims pitch their tent for them.

• Prophet Muhammad sent them back to their homes protected by his own guards and accompanied by a trusted Companion


Three Examples of Interfaith Dialogue

1. Ramadan Iftar’s

2. Abraham Conference

3. Home Encounters


Interfaith Dialogue Examples in the

Australian Context


Ramadan Iftar’s• Sharing of a meal

– Muslims feel comfortable in sharing a practice which they are familiar with, playing host.

– Non-Muslims appreciate the chance to share such a special occasion and feel accepted by the Muslim community.


Abraham Conference

• It has a special formula being a grassroots level initiative with the involvement of religious, academic and political leaders.


Home Encounters

• Coming together and talking about common topics such as spirituality, marriage and festivals in a home environment.


Summary

• Multifaith Australia is a reflection of the multifaith world.

• Studies of Religion subject is an opportunity to make students familiar with the multifaith world/Australia.

• Understanding Islam in the context of the multifaith world is important due to the sheer size of the Muslim world.

• Islam encourages interfaith dialogue

• Muslims are involved in various interfaith dialogue initiatives.


References

• www.affinity.org.au

• www.intercultural.org.au

• www.gallipolimosque.org.au

• www.lma.org.au/mosque.php

• www.fecca.org.au/interfaith

• www.homeencounters.org.au

Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith AustraliaSlide 1 INTERFAITH DIALOGUE IN MULTIFAITH AUSTRALIA.

Documents

Transcript of Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith AustraliaSlide 1 INTERFAITH DIALOGUE IN MULTIFAITH AUSTRALIA.