Bahá’ís participate in a month-long expo on world religions

Kuching: A month-long “World Religions, Universal Peace and Global Ethic” exhibition was launched here by the Head of Sarawak State, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin at the state library on 4 October 2005. Among the dignitaries at the launching was the Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, who spoke during the opening ceremony. A delegation of Bahá’ís also attended the launching.

The exhibition, ending on 27 Oct, is jointly organised by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) and the Sarawak State Library (Pustaka), in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF). It is being held in Sarawak for the first time. The Chairman of German-based Global Ethic Foundation, Prof Dr. Hans Kung pointed out that people of all religions knew too little about one another and hoped the exhibition could contribute towards changing that.

“…they know far too little about what all the religions and ethical traditions have in common,” he said in a recent statement.

Meanwhile, in the same statement, the Sarawak representative of Malaysia Interfaith Network, Dr. John Fodzar, who is also a member of the Kuching Bahá’í community, said the event further consolidates Sarawak’s long history of interfaith harmony between its multi-religious bodies.

“The uniqueness of this exhibition is also the openness of an organization, such as Pustaka, being a state library, supporting non-government organizations (NGOs) like AZAM and KAF, in organising this momentous event.” The exhibition aims to contribute to a better understanding, respect and appreciation of the different world religions and faiths, as well as to a better knowledge about the common moral values and ethical standards that these religions shared.

The exhibition showcases in huge banner format the common traditions and beliefs of Indigenous Spiritualities, Hinduism, Chinese religion, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and the Bahá’í Faith. The exhibition is opened to members of the public and a range of activities have also been planned in conjunction with the event.

The highlight of these activities will be the “Interfaith Forum on Religion and Social Issues: Sarawak Perspectives” this coming 27 October at the same venue. Other activities include video shows on different faiths, as well as displays of books donated by each religious community. The Bahá’ís donated twelve books, among which was “Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh”.