Dialogue and Alliance Paris, France's Interfaith Circle - 33rd Partage Sricptural Francophone

The Dialogue and Alliance interfaith circle held its monthly meeting, this time on the general theme chosen for the year: “Peace begins with me”.

The main face-to-face meeting was held at the Espace Barrault in Paris, with Zoom connections from several countries, including Belgium, Canada, Congo, France, Haiti, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Peru, Portugal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tome, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, United States, etc.

Ms Soraya Ayouch, a member of the Dialogue and Alliance sponsorship committee, moderated the meeting.

The first reading was from a Buddhist perspective. It was the very first speech given by the Buddha to his five ascetic companions. It was commented on by Mr Jean-André GALEYRAND, on behalf of the Venerable Michel THAO CHAN, founding president of the Cercle de Réflexion des Nations.

As a short cultural break, we then listened to “Environné de calme et de puissance”, a sung version of the poem written to his fiancée for Christmas 1944 by the Lutheran pastor Dietrich BONHOEFFER, when he was imprisoned for his resistance to the Nazis. Tanya MONNIER performed it.

The second reading provided a Christian perspective. It was John 14:27, and was commented on by Monsignor NICOLAS, Orthodox Patriarch of the Nations, Paris.

The third reading brought a Muslim perspective. It was verses 7 to 13 of the XIII Sura of the Koran (The Thunder). It was recited by Cheick Saad EL GHAMIDI from Saudi Arabia, then commented on by Dr Mouslim FIDAHOUSSEN, an Islamologist.

The meeting ended with a question-and-answer session and some remarks by Mr Jean-François MOULINET, coordinator of the Dialogue and Alliance circle, who announced that the next meeting would be held on Sunday 4 February on the theme of “World Interfaith Harmony Week” and “International Human Brotherhood Day”.

The recording of this program is available at www,youtube,com/watch?v=VBfeYXmYoak