Religious Dialogue in

multi-faith Australia:
-Interfaith Dialogue

-Evaluate the importance of Interfaith Dialogue in

multifaith Australia.

Interfaith Dialogue

Interfaith dialogue: a conversation established between hierarchies of different religious

traditions to develop familiarity and promote understanding and dialogue.

The years since World War II have seen the Australian community reassess its attitudes to many
issues, including the place of religious traditions other than Christianity.

Even Christian churches have reconsidered their long-held view that other religions are errors at
best, or the work of the Devil at worst. This has led, especially since the 1970s, to a new
involvement in interfaith dialogue.

Much of this dialogue is at an official level, with groups such as the NCCA involved in discussions
with official bodies representing other religious traditions. The NCCA has established the
Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews. They seek to develop services and
education seminars as well as encourage dialogue. The Affinity Intercultural Foundation was
established by Muslim youth to help develop harmony with fellow Australians.

Interfaith Dialogue

On the Dalai Lamas visit to Australia in 2007, the Australian National University in Canberra
hosted an interfaith dialogue symposium. Several religious organisations attended.

Inter-faith dialogue is NOT about proving the superiority of one tradition over another. It
attempts to respect the basis of faith of the particular tradition.

It is building relationships between religious tradition where mutual respect leads to shared
religious prayer services, working on common projects such as human rights issues, indigenous
rights and poverty, humanitarian relief activities, and assistance given to asylum seekers

The Australian Context

A Pluralistic Society
Members of Jewish and Christian communities were present on the First Fleet.
Evidence of Hindus and Muslims in West Australia date back to the mid 1800s
Major influx of various religious traditions post 1945, especially in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
Australia as Multicultural (Multi-Faith) by 1970s

Interfaith Dialogue in Australia

In Australia, the recent misunderstanding between Muslims and Christians is being addressed by
groups such as the National Council of Churches and the Islamic Federation.

Modern Interfaith Dialogue

Interfaith Dialogue
Q and A:
Interfaith Dialogue