Communication on October 27, 2006
l "Religion & Culture Festival" Promotes Interreligious Understanding and Harmony
The 10th "Religion & Culture Festival in Korea" was held around the theme "Believers' Efforts to Promote the Culture of Sharing and Donation" at the Seoul Plaza on October 21, 2006.
Believers from seven religions, including the Catholic Church, Protestant Churches, Buddhism, Won Buddhism, Confucianism, Chondogyo and Association of Ethnic Religions, as well as non-believers participated in the festival. This interreligious event was organized by the Korean Council of Religious Leaders.
Beginning from the pledge of religious leaders to make efforts for spreading the culture of sharing and donation, the festival proceeded with various events: "Difference and Similarity," a corner to experience other religions, for example, to make a rosary or to decorate candles used in the Catholic Church and to make Buddhist prayer beads; "The World is One," a photo exhibit showing the social activities of religions; "Truth, Dressed in Clothes," a special experience to put on the ritual garments of other religions; and a musical concert and the performance of religious martial arts and religious dance. The fund raised through the pledge of religious leaders urging sharing and donation will be spent for the North Korean escapees and migrant workers in Korea.
The Most Rev. Hyginus Kim Hee-joong, President of the CBCK Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue, said, "I hope that through this event the precious values cherished by religions, that is, sharing and love, can permeate into the lives of all people, believers or not."