IAPD France: 8th Interreligious Meeting by Zoom in France

8th Interreligious Meeting by Zoom in France, Sunday, October 10, 2021, from 5 to 6:30 pm. On Sunday, October 10, 2021, IAPD-France organized its monthly interfaith Zoom meeting on the theme: “SATYAGRAHA: when love makes the revolution”, on the occasion of the International Day of Non-Violence 2021. Three excerpts from sacred texts on this theme had been sent to all those registered. This time, in addition to the live transmission via Zoom, we were able to organize two face-to-face meetings (one at the Espace Barrault in Paris and the other at the Espace Culture & Paix in Lyon); in the end, more than 100 people (from 25 countries) were able to participate in the meeting live on Zoom, and more on Facebook. The moderator was Mrs Soraya AYOUCH, clinical psychologist, assistant professor Paris VII, Al Moultaqa Foundation, Tarika Kadiria Boutchichya and member of the sponsoring committee of “Dialogue & Alliance”. After their reading, the sacred texts were commented by representatives of different traditions: o JUDAISM: the text, taken from the 2nd Book of Samuel 16.5-12, was read and briefly commented by Mrs Tirzi MARTIN (who was replacing Rabbi Gabriel HAGAI, prevented from attending for medical reasons). o CHRISTIANISM: the text of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5.9-10) was commented on by Pastor Jean- Claude GIRONDIN, Doctor of Sociology, Pastor of the Multicultural Mennonite Church of Villeneuve-le-Comte, author of “Martin Luther King: the dream of the ‘beloved community’”. o The duo Naren & Sarada offered a song by Tagore “Avalokiteshvara”. o ISLAM: verses 33 to 36 of Sura 41 of the Qur’an were very clearly commented on by Ms Anne- Sophie MONSINAY, co-founder of “Voices of an Enlightened Islam” and Imam of the Simorgh Mosque. There was then a question and answer session coordinated by Mr Laurent LADOUCE, UPF Research Fellow. Mr Jean-François MOULINET, coordinator of the Dialogue & Alliance Forum, presented some closing remarks and Venerable Michel THAO CHAN presented some conclusions. The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday 7 November 2021 with the theme “Living and Dying”, on the occasion of All Saints’ Day.

P.S. Recording of the event: https://youtu.be/kWOmXzVoJuE .