LAEA MEDLEY
Major South African faith groupings have called on the public to restore compassion to religion, to ensure that the youth are given accurate information about other traditions and to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity.
This comes after faith groupings agreed on a “Charter for Compassion” to restore compassionate thinking and action in religious, moral and political life.
In this province, the charter is sponsored by the KwaZulu-Natal Inter-Religious Council, chaired by Cardinal Wilfrid Napier. The world charter was drawn up in November 2009 by a multi-faith, multi-national council of leaders.
Rabbi Hillel Avidan, of the Durban Progressive Jewish Congregation,
said that speaking violently, to deny basic rights to anybody and to incite hatred on others was a denial of our common humanity.
“If more people would adhere to this charter, South African society would be more harmonious,” Avidan said.
“Religious, cultural and political differences should never be cause for conflict, and adherence to this charter will hopefully raise levels of tolerance until more South Africans come to accept and enjoy the wide diversity of faiths, customs and political views with which our country is blessed.”