Interfaith Dialogue Course

Last year at Charles Sturt University, UTC Parramatta Campus, I studied the “Interfaith Dialogue” course, not because Rev Seforosa Carroll was the Subject Co-ordinator and a fellow Pacific Islander who had also defected to Australia, but because I wanted to find out what it is all about. As part of my training for the Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia, a multicultural church, we are required to explore and learn about other faiths, so that is the other reason for my choosing to study this subject.

I still remember our first class. The very first question we asked Sef was the one that a Federal politician asked in the infamous interview “Please explain?” Well, unbeknown to us, that question was actually our first topic of discussion in the course outline, what is Interfaith Dialogue? In trying to come up with my own definition, I realised that my answer will always be biased towards Christian faith’s perspective because that is my DNA.

The visit by members of the Australian National Dialogue group from different faiths was very significant for me. Although I learnt so much from distinguished authors and practitioner’s literature in this new field of study, the visit by this group was the defining moment for me. In sharing their relevant stories and experiences in the Australian context, I was so moved by their honesty and willingness to make a stand against such strong opposition and negative public perception.

One member of this group said “Interfaith dialogue is our continuous engagement that leads to the interrelation of Common Good”. Another member said, “the threat is not about a particular faith, it is in fact that religion is under attack from secularism”. Perhaps the following comment was the most honourable, to hear the willingness for active engagement. “Interfaith dialogue is about you defending the other faith…it is our conviction to defend others.”

The class visit to the Gallipoli Mosque at Auburn and the Sikh Gurdwarra at Bexley further exposed my limited knowledge of other faith practices and hospitalities. Studying interfaith Dialogue had enriched my life far and beyond my expectation. I learnt so much from the course and now realised that all faiths need each other. It is not about converting others to my faith but supporting others in their faith journey whatever it may be. In its simplest form, it is just like sharing a meal together, all are welcome, all share the food, all engage in conversations with some agreement and disagreement and at the end of the meal all are being fed and happy to continue on living the community of common people.

To conclude, in my opinion, to be an effective leader of any Faith, Congregation, Church, Chapel, Temple, Mosque, Parish, Synagogue or Gurdwarra one should engage in meaningful dialogue with leaders of other faiths. It is not a feel good exercise but rather the rightful diet for Australia of today and tomorrow.  

Haloti Kailahi