Multi-faith dialogue has state backing

(July 29, 2011) The government is starting to follow the Catholic Church’s example by pursuing inter-religious dialogue to counter extremism and foster peace and solidarity among religious communities. In what is the government’s first attempt at promoting inter-religious dialogue, the Islamic Foundation organized a special discussion among 91 religious leaders and intellectuals in Dinajpur, in the northwest of the country recently. The event, sponsored by the ministry of religious affairs was held at the Imam training institute in the town. “Spiritual and religious practices are activities that acknowledge human dignity. This concept has to be spread around the country to ensure a peaceful existence for majority and minority religious communities. We should uphold our own religion and respect the faith and religious lives of others,” Mamun Mian, a Muslim cleric, told the gathering. Society in the twenty-first-century has no place for extremism and dialogue is the key to ensuring peace and harmony. Dr. Balram Roy, a Hindu and a university professor, said government sponsorship of the gathering was a step in the right direction and praised Catholic efforts in trying to forge inter-religious peace. Father George Anthony Gomes, from the Dinajpur diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism, said he was really happy to see Church dialogue efforts being lauded and imitated. “I recall the day three years ago when a number of people from various faiths responded to our call for dialogue. This is how we can sustain brotherhood and harmony,” he added.