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Religions are like exquisite gardens, places full of surpassing beauty and tranquility, like sacred groves filled with beautiful birds and their melodious songs. Religions are beautiful gardens, but they are islands. They are enchanting islets, veritable oases for the soul and the spirit. But they are islands nevertheless. If we can connect all these islands with love and compassion, in a ‘garland project’, we will have a peaceful, happy and prosperous India in front of us. Universal truths embodied in each relig- |
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on are very similar and they will help to form the bridge thus reinforcing basic unity of humanity. |
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Another fact of today is that the intellectual gap between the opinion maker class and the masses is rather large. The removal of the gap is best done by spreading knowledge and increasing the knowledge base of every citizen in all vital aspects of their lives. As the number of enlightened citizens increases, the ability to cope with and transform problems will also increase. In order to achieve this, in addition to concentrating on education of youth, there is also need for continual education of adult population and senior citizens on values of lives and about different religions, the basic spiritual unity of all religions and the strong syncretism between religions in the Indian tradition.
For the above, it is necessary to have a continual Inter-Faith-Dialogue between the religious and spiritual heads as well as scholars. This dialogue will be ennobling in spirit and enlightening in perspective. Proceedings of and conclusion from such Inter Faith Dialogues can be widely disseminated among people. Maximum benefit may be derived from such knowledge sharing in addition to finding our own unique methods.
Extracted from the Surat Spiritual Declaration
15th October, 2003 3
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»» Multifaith Programmes
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PROJECT INTERFAITH has been functioning in various ways since 2003. At one level the Apex Body members were attending interfaith meetings across the world including the Parliament of World’s Religions Summit in Barcelona.
At another level round tables were held in the major cities of India where people from different faiths sat together to chalk out programmes of mutual participation. Many cities across the country organized more than seventy multi faith programmes to talk on the unity of minds and the oneness of humanity. The proceedings were widely covered in the media |
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»» Publication INTERFAITH
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PROJECT INTERFAITH has been supplying articles to the magazine “U Can Change the World” and has built a database of more than 300 religious practitioners who are in contact with it. Some spirituality columns were also supplied articles by FUREC-PROJECT INTERFAITH. Project Interfaith brings out different publications, CD’s and other such material from time to time. |
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| »» Distinguished Lecture Series |
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FUREC Distinguished Lecture series is a programme under the project INTERFAIH of FUREC. The lecture series aims at improving the understanding and therefore the tolerance level of people towards all religions. Three lectures have so far been held in this series. They have been delivered by the Apex Body members: Jagadguru Sri Sri Sivaratri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji (Media and Truth), Bishop Dr. Thomas Dabre (Media and Truth) and Dr. Homi B. Dhalla (Ecology and Zoroastrian Perceptive). The Fourth Lecture on the second evening of the series was delivered by His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Hon’ble President of India (What can I give?). |
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»» Syncretic Traditions
Indian History records continuous attempts to encourage tolerance and public discussion so as to develop respect for all religions. Taking this tradition forward FUREC launches its syncretic tradition series saluting the intricately woven matrix of economic and devotional interdependence between different beliefs and traditions that characterize life in India at the fundamental plane of the mental and physical existence.
Please click here for a calendar of FUREC activities.
Many of the above lectures and articles are available for sale or free distribution. Please feel free to contact: |
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Project Coordinator - INTERFAITH
Foundation for Unity of Religions
and Enlightened Citizenship
Second Floor, Nehru House,
4, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi, Pin - 110002
Tel: 91-11-41509070 Fax: 91-11-41509016 |
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