World Religion Day celebration focuses on unity and harmony

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
MORE than 40 people attended the Baha’i World Religion Day celebration on Sunday at the Baha’i Centre at 2-Mile in Lae.
With the theme ‘Religion must be the cause of unity’, representatives from different faiths shared their views and ideas on what religion was and how it could bring about harmony. World religion day is celebrated because religions are part and parcel of human society, and all have one common vision in unity of mankind and belief in one God.
“It is a very special day,” guest speaker Payman Rowhani, who is a pioneer of the Baha’i Faith in the Pacific said.
“It is a time when all the different religions come together, and we can really demonstrate that we are the children of God.
“There is only one religion, and that religion is the religion of God.
“We may call it different names – Christians, Muslims, Hindus or the Baha’i Faith – but the truth is there is only one religion, and today we are celebrating that religion.
“This is a day to celebrate harmony within our communities, religious harmony and the unity of all religions.”
Rowhani encouraged people to love God with their hearts and to always teach the future generations to do the same.
“Children are the only ones in society that do not see prejudice, or see people of different churches and religions,” he said.
“It is up to us parents to help them grow to love God with their hearts.”
World Religion Day was initiated in 1950 by the national spiritual assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States.
Bahá’ís celebrate the day by hosting discussions, conferences, and other events which foster understanding and communication between the followers of all religions.