June Interreligious Sharing Program Builds Understanding and Unity
Written by: Gale Alves
WFWP's June Zoom Interreligious Sharing program brought together faith leaders and representatives from the Bahá'í Faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the United Methodist Church, and Peace Starts with Me for an evening of meaningful dialogue and mutual learning.
The discussion centered on three reflective questions proposed by one of the Bahá'í participants:
Why did you choose your particular religion or denomination?
What does it mean to be a member of your faith?
What is the purpose of your life?
Each participant shared personal reflections, creating an atmosphere of openness, respect, and genuine listening. Having met regularly for more than three years, the group has developed a strong foundation of trust that allows for honest conversations about deeply held beliefs.
During the dialogue, the Peace Starts with Me representative shared the Unification understanding of God's providence, including the mission of True Parents, the significance of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb described in the Book of Revelation, the Three Great Blessings, God's parental heart, and the equal value of men and women in God's ideal.
Despite differences in theology, participants discovered a remarkable degree of common ground. They affirmed their shared commitment to:
Loving God and Jesus.
Living according to God's Word.
Loving and respecting people of all backgrounds.
Serving others and living for the sake of others.
Practicing forgiveness.
Recognizing that earthly life prepares us for eternal life.
Seeing the goodness in others rather than focusing on their shortcomings.
Overcoming our fallen or sinful nature.
Working to build unity within the human family.
The June gathering once again demonstrated that sincere interfaith dialogue can deepen mutual understanding while highlighting the universal values that unite people of faith in the pursuit of peace.
