Introduction:
Australia is a nation enriched by diversity of many different faiths and cultures. Promoting interfaith
dialogue, harmony and peace in these diverse multi-faith communities in Australia is imperative.
There needs to be more concrete relationships between those faith communities.
Communication, then, is already an implicit ethic, and dialogue is itself spirituality. Justice and peace
are not simply possible topics for dialogue; they must be its very medium. Dialogue must be
non-violent
communication at every level, including the cognitive. It has been well described as "doing
before knowing" (Paul Knitter), and on the moral quality of this 'doing' the eventual 'knowing'
depends. Relationships of mutual trust and acceptance are therefore not just desirable
accompaniments of dialogue; they are indispensable and constitutive, for without them there simply
cannot be communication that will lead to mutual understanding.
Interfaith dialogue seeks to realize religion's basic oneness and unity, and the universality of belief.
Religion embraces all beliefs and races in brotherhood, and exalts love, respect, tolerance,
forgiveness, mercy, human rights, peace, brotherhood, and freedom via its Prophets. For interfaith
dialogue to succeed, we must forget the past, ignore polemics, and focus on common points.
Perhaps, love is the greatest tool for dialogue. Love is a person's most essential element. It is a most
radiant light, a great power that can resist and overcome every force. Love elevates every soul that
absorbs it, and prepares it for eternity. Those who make contact with eternity through love seek to
implant in others what they receive. They dedicate their lives to this, and endure any hardship for its
sake.
Those who want to reform the world must first reform themselves; purify their inner worlds of hatred,
rancour, and jealousy; and adorn their outer worlds with virtue. Those who lack self-control, self discipline,
and refined feelings may seem attractive and insightful at first. However, what they inspire
in others disappears quickly.
Goodness, beauty, truthfulness, and being virtuous are the essence of the world and humanity.
Whatever happens, the world will one day find this essence. No one can prevent this.
The Australian Intercultural Society was established with the intention of playing a part in this noble
cause. Our aim is to promote the harmony of Australia's diverse cultural values on national and/or
international level, to promote and foster harmonious relations between faith communities in
Australian society, to encourage members of the community to achieve efficiency and promote high
ethical standards in business, industry, professions, public duties and private
endeavours, to raise
public awareness on social justice issues and to organize and plan various events and functions
such as international conferences, arts festivals, mosque open days, church and synagogue visits,
joint interfaith projects and various other public events.
Our Beliefs:
Australian Intercultural Society (the AIS) was established in the year 2000 by a
small group of professional second generation Australian Muslims. The AIS, its
Directors and members decided to focus on issues such as 'Interfaith dialogue',
'Living in harmony' and 'Social interactions in a diverse cultural society'.
Therefore we developed the idea of “Building Bridges through information,
interaction and cooperation”. Diverse cultural and multi-faith communities need
to understand each other through social interaction and personal experiences by
means of social & educational gatherings.
Since its establishment, the AIS has built community partnership projects to
achieve those goals in cooperating with faith communities as well as government
and community organizations and institutions.
We have been looking forward to a better world where humanity can live in peace
and tranquillity. Humanity is sick and tired of wars and conflicts. What the
world needs is social cohesion, respect for human dignity, spiritual well-being,
and more than ever, peace. The modern world is transforming into a global
village; many countries - including Australia - are blending with multi-layers
of cultural, linguistic and religious societies of complexity. Australian Muslim
community is still in the process of settlement, self-organization and adjusting
to the Australian society. Many of the Muslim population have come from lower
socio-economic rural regions of the world and some with inadequate education,
yet they carry a historical baggage and stereotype information regarding the
western culture and system.
Generally speaking, western society and the Australian mainstream culture has
also been unable to embrace other cultures and faiths due to similar
stereotyping and misconceptions regarding the “others” phenomenon. Australia as
a nation has already scrapped “The white Australian policy” in the early '70's.
However, incidents such as the 9/11 and other similar acts of terror have
deepened the misunderstandings and misinterpretations of the other cultures and
faiths, in particular, Islam.
The AIS believes that Australian diverse cultural and pluralistic democratic
society would be enriched with social interaction and educational awareness
projects. The vulnerable and emerging communities should become familiar with
Australian and universal values to understand, challenge and deal with
differences, racial and religious vilifications, anti-Semitism and
Islamo-phobia.
Our Vision:
- All rights are equally important, and the rights of an individual cannot be
sacrificed for society's sake.
- Power lies in truth, a refutation of the common belief that truth relies upon
power.
- Justice, fairness and the rules of law are essential.
- Freedom of belief & opinion, rights to life, personal property, reproduction,
and well being of individuals (both mental and physical health) cannot be
violated.
- The privacy of human beings and protection of individual's life must be
maintained.
- No one can be convicted of a crime without evidence, or accused and punished
for someone else's crime even if the suspect happens to be his or her closest
relative.
- People should co-operate for a peaceful co-existence.
Our Structure:
View our organisational chart here:
http://www.intercultural.org.au/pdf/AIS_Organisational_Chart_2006.pdf