Two years ago I posted on the results of an investigation into a complaint of vilification against Muslims in Australia: Vilification Sentencing in Melbourne Reveals Need for Humility. Two years later the parties to the case, the Islamic Council of Victoria Inc., Catch The Fire Ministries Inc., Daniel Nalliah and Daniel Scot, have released a joint statement…
Although some of the terms of that agreement are confidential, the parties have agreed to make this joint public statement.
Notwithstanding their differing views about the merits of the complaint made by the ICV, each of the ICV, Catch The Fire Ministries, Pastor Scot and Pastor Nalliah affirm and recognise the following:
1) the dignity and worth of every human being, irrespective of their religious faith, or the absence of religious faith;
2) the rights of each other, their communities, and all persons, to adhere to and express their own religious beliefs and to conduct their lives consistently with those beliefs;
3) the rights of each other, their communities and all persons, within the limits provided for by law, to robustly debate religion, including the right to criticise the religious belief of another, in a free, open and democratic society;
4) the value of friendship, respect and co-operation between Christians, Muslims and all people of other faiths; and
5) the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act forms part of the law of Victoria to which the rights referred to in paragraph 3 above are subject.
Coexistence was one of the highlights of the U2 Vertigo concert I attended in Brisbane. Bono wore a headband with the word “Coexist”, and the word “Coexist” appeared in the light show, during songs such as “Sunday Bloody Sunday”.
The “Coexist” symbol incorporates the crescent of Islam as the C, the cross of Christianity as the T, and the Jewish Star of David as the X in the middle. Bono referred to this symbol as he sang, “Jesus, Jew, Muhammad, it’s true…All sons of Abraham. Father Abraham, speak to your sons. Tell them, No more!”
Bono first saw the “Coexist” symbol painted as grafitti on a wall in Chicago. The origins of the icon come from Poland in 2001 where graphic designer Piotr Mlodozeniec entered it in an international art competion run by the Museum on the Seam, Jerusalem. The symbol was registered as a trademark by an Indiana-based t-shirt company in 2005, unaware of its origins. See the lifestyle brand at coexistonline.com
Apparently U2 still have the challenge of working out an agreement that will acknowledge Mlodozeniec as the artist and Museum on the Seam as the copyright holder. I wonder if Coexist still believe they have a strong foothold on the financial gains associated with the symbol.
[eminimall products="coexist"]
The Project Abraham forum on peacemaking on the Gold Coast back on the 12th of November. It became a powerful carrier of meaning for the Jews, Muslims and Christians searching together for a way to live out a life of positive engagement in life, together.
I’m part of a team organising an inter-faith forum on peacemaking, being held as a follow-up to the Gold Coast Project Abraham forum held in September.
The Project Abraham Community Forum on Peacemaking will be held on Sunday, November 12, 2 to 5 pm at Nerang Bicentennial Community Centre, Nerang-Southport Rd, on the Gold Coast.
The Project Abraham concept comes from the tradition held in common by Jews, Christians and Muslims. Each of these faiths includes the Abraham narratives in their scriptures. Here on the Gold Coast a group of leaders from each of the three faiths gathered to host a travelling exhibition and a community forum on hospitality.
Now’s the time for making peace. There’s been a lot of media coverage of Muslim beliefs and practices over the last few weeks, particularly with reported comments from Ramadan sermons. Australians each read or hear about controversy regarding the rights of women. In overseas news we have been hearing about conflicts in areas that affect Jews, Muslims and Christians - Lebanon and Israel for example.
So what do the traditions and scriptures of each religion have to say about making peace? As the facilitator for the day I’ll be exploring the story of Abraham’s peacemaking in the wake of war.
First speaker is Uri Themal, Rabbi at Temple Shalom on the Gold Coast, and former director of Multicultural Affairs Queensland. Uri recently returned from a conference in Paris where he delivered a paper on Jewish perspectives on war and peace.
The second speaker will be Imraan Husain, Imam of the Gold Coast Mosque (Islamic Society of the Gold Coast). Imam Husain has been in the Gold Coast news constantly over the last few weeks, providing a moderate Muslim perspective on a so-called ‘honour killing’ and calling for people to reconciliation rather than hostility.
Third speaker will be Tony Kitchen, executive officer - education at Queensland Catholic Education Commission. Tony’s background in Catholic education has focused on peace education, peace building and capacity building.
Pictured below are speakers from the first forum in September: Chief Justice Paul De Jersey, Imam Imraan Husain, (Anglican) Bishop Ron Williams, Rabbi Uri Themal.
The Community Forum will have kosher and halaal food provided by the Jewish and Muslim communities. The Christians are organising the tea, coffee and cold drinks.
The afternoon will include 90 minutes of questions and discussion. My hope is that people will meet and get to know people from other faiths, putting into practice the call for peacemaking.
