Indonesia – Inter-faith Peace Camp
Jakarta, Indonesia - November 2021 - Six clerics of the Salesian "Sacred Heart" post-novitiate in Jakarta participated in the "Student Interreligious Peace Camp" organized by the "Interreligious Community of Young Peacemakers" from 19 to 21 November. The event was held with the aim of helping the 21 participants of different religions and sects -mainly of Islamic and Christian religions - to prevent and combat religion-based violence. It was led by nine facilitators from various educational backgrounds. The participants agreed that the lack of knowledge leads to prejudices and stereotypes and that it was necessary to build relationships, appreciate the uniqueness of each other and involve in activities such as music, theater, sport, etc., together to promote communion. Each one, shared their own experiences, on the basis of some passages chosen from the Bible and the Koran on peace and the role of women. A path towards interreligious dialogue was established thus, with a series of mutual questions and everyone agreed that violence in the name of religion is unjustifiable. Then a document by Christian and Islamic leaders was presented. It declared Love of God and neighbor as the greatest of all principles, regardless of class, background, or religion.