IAPD France - 7th Scriptural Reasoning by Zoom in France

7th Scriptural Reasoning by Zoom in France Sunday 19 September 2021, from 5 to 6.30 pm. On Sunday 19 September 2021, IAPD-France organized its monthly interfaith Zoom Meeting on the theme: “PEACE STARTS WITH ME”, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace 2021 and the Global Week for #Act4SDGs. Some excerpts of texts on this theme were sent to the more than 200 people who registered; finally, about 100 people (from several French-speaking countries) were able to participate in the meeting live on Zoom, and others on Facebook. The moderator was Ms Séline REYMOND, member of “Youth and Students for Peace” in Switzerland. The program began with a short introduction by Venerable Michel THAO CHAN, founding president of the Cercle de Réflexion des Nations and member of the sponsoring committee of the Interfaith Forum “Dialogue & Alliance”. He particularly reflected on two key words: “Peace” and “Spirituality” and on the world twenty years after 9/11 and on the study of sacred texts to help us improve the situation. After their reading, the sacred texts were commented on by representatives of different traditions: o JUDAISM: the text, taken from Genesis 29.1-6, was read in French by Mrs Noëmie KOMAGATA- NGUYEN, from Switzerland, and then commented on by Mr Philippe HADDAD, rabbi of the synagogue on rue Copernic in Paris, from the Union Libérale Israélite de France (ULIF). He explained in detail the meaning of the word “Shalom” used to greet each other among the people of Israel since the most ancient times. “Shalom” is more than a simple “hello”. It encompasses the totality of existence in space and time, the project of existence and also the biblical utopia of a fraternal and peaceful world. o ISLAM: verses 9 to 13 of Sura 49 of the Koran were very pleasantly chanted. Sheikh Khaled Bentounes, a spiritual leader recognized throughout the world and initiator of the “International Day of Living Together in Peace”, then shared several reflections on education for a culture of peace: firstly, a general definition of peace; peace as energy and a state of being; the economy of peace and the economy of nature. o UNIFICATIONNISM: The text was an excerpt from a speech by Dr Hak Ja HAN-MOON, co-founder of the Universal Peace Federation, at a “Peace Starts With Me Festival” in 2017 in the USA. This passage was

commented on by Mr Rafael GUIGNARD, family coach, who shared several personal experiences: how he had been touched and transformed, some years ago, by the motto “Peace Starts With Me” which stimulated him not to stand idly by. He shared several of his activities, in particular the “Life Book” project which made him reflect on the essence of religions (unity, contribution, inner peace, self-realization or fulfilment). There was then a question and answer session coordinated by Mr Dorian GRAVRAND. And Mr and Mrs MOULINET, coordinators of the Dialogue & Alliance Forum, gave some closing words, in particular to thank the new partner, United Religions Initiative (URI www,uri,org ), and to propose some ideas for materials to help create local interfaith groups. The next Zoom meeting is planned for early October 2021. P.S. Recording of the event “PEACE STARTS WITH ME”: youtu,be/FqWQlcpqaiE