In mid-January representatives of the Anglican communion, Lutheran church, and Buddhist faith met in Myanmar to discuss ongoing interfaith relations. The meeting was initiated by the Anglican Interfaith Network, NIFCON, the Lutheran World Federation (of which the ELCA is a member), and others, and included representatives of the Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Roman Catholic traditions, and Buddhists from the Theravada and Mahayana traditions. The Anglican Communion News Service has more coverage here.
The discussion centered around two key scriptures:
“Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is an eternal law.” Dhammapada v.5
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” Luke 10:27
In a statement released by the participants, the importance of interfaith dialogue was acknowledged. “We recognize that interreligious dialogue can enrich, challenge and energize our faith through the questions and experiences shared when Buddhists and Christians encounter one another. We also recognize the importance of not imposing negative interpretations of each other’s beliefs.” The full statement can be found here.
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Yes. That is correct. I know more about the Rohingya situation than any Anglican or Lutheran in Myanmar. I am glad to see you understand.
And you’re more humble than they are, too! /s
Can we not first give thanks for dialogue? Must we *immediately* launch into “But what about?!”-ism? Kyrie eleison…
Actually I have had a conversation with some of the Episcopalians who went to the meeting – and they heard about it for the first time when there.
I was referring to the Anglicans & Lutherans who live there, not visitors from other countries. There is an Anglican province and an Evangelical Lutheran Church of Burma.
David – read up on this situation -we in the west think all Buddhists are peace loving meditating types – that is not how it is in Myanmar. They have been called out by many around the world for the atrocities and oppression of the mainly Muslim Rohingya
1) How do you know how well read up on the situation that I am?
2) The two of you know better than Anglicans & Lutherans on the ground there in Burma/Myanmar?
These comments both sound a lot like the right wing folks in the US who blame all Muslims for attrocities radical jihadist Muslims have commited.
I hope you told them that we hold the entire sangha accountable for Wirathu. There should be no Christian collaboration with these rapists, murderers, child stealers. Honestly…
Why aren’t the Christians consulting with their monotheistic partners? Why no Jews? No Muslims? Those are our natural colleagues in bringing about the reign of God and they need partners in Myanmar.
It is no wonder that the church is becoming an irrelevant, impotent, instrument of destruction to all that is lovely and good. This is just madness.