Aim:
To have interfaith dialogue to expand the vision of young people through interaction with people of different faiths and beliefs. To understand our faith better through the eyes of our brother's faith.
"I study my scripture better in the light of other scriptures"
- Swami Vivekananda
Introduction:
Interfaith dialogue involves a panel of speakers from different faiths outside the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation with which young people will converse, question, exchange and learn the true meaning of interfaith. It is not enough to discuss interfaith amongst Sai devotees but to expand our vision bu open dialogue with people outside of the Organisation. The success of this lesson depends on the youth being able to speak freely. It is therefore necessary to invite external speakers who are from the local interfaith associations so that they will be more prone to discuss their faith in the light of interfaith.
"The walls that are built between ourselves do not extend to heaven."
- Bishop of Brentwood, quoted from a speak on Interfaith, 1995
Quotations:
"ALL RELIGIONS are the facets of the same TRUTH. All scriptures are holy. All the places of worship are holy. All religions are seeking the one and the same GOD, although they may call him by different names"
- Sathya Sai Speaks 3, page 27
"The whole of mankind belongs to one Religion the Religion of Man. For all men, God is the Father. As the children of one God, all men are brothers. This conference is therefore a family gathering. It is not a meeting of nationalities and religions. It is a meeting of minds. It does not relate to any one culture or philosophy. It is concerned with the divine way of life that is implicit in all teachings of religions. Its purpose is to see Unity in Diversity"
- Message sent by Sri Sathya Sai Baba to an International Symposium on 'Unity is Divinity, Purity is Enlightenment' organised by the SSSO of Italy in Rome on October 1993
Activities:
1. Invite various speakers from different faiths (not form the SSSSO) to the lesson to form a panel with which the youth will learn to have interfaith dialogue. Set up the room in a comfortable manner that will put the youth at ease with the speakers - do in ice breaker session before opening the dialogue.
2. The group to organise a local interfaith walk by individually contacting religious leaders and making contact with their youth groups. Speak to your Centre Chair and get their permission. You may wish to make this into a centre activity.
3. Group Project: To look at Christ through the eyes of other faiths. How is the life of Christ and his teachings represented in other religions.
4. Compare and contrast the idea that there is only one God, in each of the major world religions.
5. Visit the holy place of worship of different religions and write a project on your findings.
6. Write a song based on the idea that though there may be many religions but the God of each is one and the same.
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