INTERFAITH DIALOGUE IN MULTIFAITH AUSTRALIA Slide 1 Interfaith

INTERFAITH DIALOGUE IN MULTIFAITH AUSTRALIA Slide 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. Slide 2 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Major Religious Affiliations in Australia Slide 3 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Religious Affiliation in 2006 Census Christianity 63. 9% Catholic Anglican Uniting Church Presbyterian and Reformed Eastern Orthodox Baptist Lutheran Pentecostal Other Christian Slide 4 Non-Christian Buddhism Islam Hinduism Judaism Other Non-Christian 5. 6% No Religion 16. 6% Not stated 11. 2% Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Growth in Australia’s Non‑Christian Religious Affiliations 1981– 2006 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 1981– 2006 Census of Population and Housing Slide 5 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Growth in Australia’s Non‑Christian Religious affiliations 2001– 2006 Hinduism 55. 1% Non-religion 27. 5% Slide 6 Islam 20. 9% Buddhist 17% Judaism 6% Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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. Slide 7 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Studies of Religion • Studies of Religion is now the: – 5 th 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 Slide 8 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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. ” Slide 9 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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. Slide 10 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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). Slide 11 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Muslims in Australia Slide 12 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Muslims in Australia 1. 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. Slide 13 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Muslims in Australia 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) Slide 14 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Australian Muslims by Country of Birth 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 Slide 15 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia .

Islam’s Perspective on Interfaith Dialogue Slide 16 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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). Slide 17 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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. Slide 18 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

“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) Slide 19 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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) Slide 20 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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 Slide 21 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Three Examples of Interfaith Dialogue 1. Ramadan Iftar’s 2. Abraham Conference 3. Home Encounters Slide 22 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Interfaith Dialogue Examples in the Australian Context Slide 23 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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. Slide 24 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Abraham Conference • It has a special formula being a grassroots level initiative with the involvement of religious, academic and political leaders. Slide 25 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

Home Encounters • Coming together and talking about common topics such as spirituality, marriage and festivals in a home environment. Slide 26 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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. Slide 27 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia

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 Slide 28 Interfaith Dialogue in Multifaith Australia