ROME – “There is an architecture and there is a craftsmanship of interfaith dialogue” that is, the major themes underlying the relationship between religions and their connection to daily living, as reported by the TusciaTimes.eu
It was from this interesting starting point, born of the cultural vivacity of presenter Paolo Bonini, that on Saturday, Feb. 17, a meeting entitled THE DIMENSION OF UNIVERSALITY: A CROSSROAD FOR UNDERSTANDING, SOLIDARITY AND MULTUCULTURALITY was held at the Church of Scientology Auditorium in Rome.
An event in line with the intent of the United Nations General Assembly resolution in 2010 that proclaimed World Interfaith Harmony Week, on stage, prompted by Bonini’s questions and reflections, interacted in dialogue: Maria Rosaria Fazio, professor of Biblical Hebrew; Assem Migahed, intellectual researcher of Islamic spirituality and science; Giuseppe Cicogna, vice president of Fedensieme ApS and spokesperson for the Church of Scientology; Fabio Grementieri, creator of the educational theme park in Santiago Estero (Argentina); Gustavo Guillerme’, president of the World Congress of Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue; and Massimo AbdAllah Cozzolino, of the Italian Islamic Confederation.
Also diverse was the audience composed of religious and non-religious people, including representatives from Theravada Buddhists, Catholics, Scientologists, Soka Gakkai Buddhists, Anglican Church of Europe, UAAR (Union of Rationalist Agnostics Atheists), Afghan Community and cultural mediators.
Themed musical interludes by Maurizio De Simone (guitar), Francesco Passarelli (vocals) and Samuele Bonini (vocals) punctuated the rhythm and melody of a cultural crossroads where the pinnacles of religious and secular thought find harmony and build tangible peace on the ground, despite the current context in which even talking about peace might seem paradoxical.
If a common summary could be drawn from the various speeches and testimonies, perhaps it would sound like this: “Wars have seemingly endless propaganda, means and material interests that are difficult to surmount. But peace can and must be cultivated and made to grow within each one of us; and it is thanks to moments like today’s [last Saturday Ed] – which occur continuously in different forms and in different places in the world – that we can and must continue to build a better present and future.”
