Peace just needs faith

NUMEROUS religious and spiritual groups will come together on Saturday at the Hobart Town Hall in a celebration of “interfaith” at Hobart’s first 1 Day Interfaith Festival.

Festival director Julian McGarry said events like these were vital for communication among differing groups in society.

“There can be no world peace without religious peace and there can be no religious peace without dialogue among the religious traditions,” he said.

Followers of many religions, including Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Baha’ism and the Aboriginal communities in Hobart will attend the festival, with presentations by speakers from the major faith traditions and other spiritual groups.

There will also be musical and cultural performances from various groups in Hobart.

Mr McGarry said the event was a way to promote interfaith and intercultural peace in greater Hobart.

“Hobart is generally recognised as a peaceful city which has embraced this diversity of ethnic groups into the wider community,” Mr McGarry said.

“But it would be unwise to be complacent about future relationships.”

The 1 Day Interfaith Festival is open to all the public, religious or nonreligious, theist or atheist, and is on at the Hobart Town Hall from 10am to 5pm.