Seminar highlights issue of religious tolerance, co-existence and freedom of expression
Dimapur, July 17 (MExN): To promote peace, unity and brotherhood, the department of philosophy and religion, Salesian College, Dimapur organized a daylong seminar on the theme, ‘Religious Tolerance: Challenges and Prospects’ on July 16.
The college stated in a press release that the seminar highlighted the issue of religious tolerance, co-existence and freedom of expression.
The keynote speaker Rev. Fr. Noby George, Vice Principal, Salesian College Sonada, Darjeeling said historically India is a country that gave birth and nurtured a number of world religions. He said India stands as an example to the world as a country of tolerance and religious freedom; however, precaution is to be taken as some fundamentalist forces can become sources of religious divisions.
Rev. Br. Jerry, Assistant Professor, presented a paper on “Harmony in Religious Pluralism: A Panikkarian Perspective”, which emphasized on the need to discover the integral union that lies hidden among various religions of the world.
There were four other papers presented by students of Philosophy honours. The basic theme that ran through the papers presented by the students was the meaning and relevance of religious tolerance and dialogue as a way out for religious intolerance and disharmony in the present day society.
More than 200 students participated in the event. After each session, there were a few moments of interaction with the speaker wherein the participants could put forward their queries. The principal of the institution, Fr. Policarp Xalxo, exhorted the participants to take a step forward from mere toleration of other religions and begin to love and respect the good values that are present in them.
The programme concluded with a dance based on the theme, inter-religious harmony. Participants in general expressed their satisfaction and returned with a firm resolution to put into practice the lines of action emerged in the discussion, the release stated.
