Albury-Wodonga: Mapping Social Cohesion with Prof. Andrew Markus

Professor Andrew Markus of Monash University – author of the annual Scanlon Foundation social cohesion reports – will present key findings from the latest national survey at a public presentation in Albury-Wodonga on Tuesday, 30 January 2018.
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Getting religion (close to) right on YouTube

(RNS) — In early 2017, a series on CNN hosted by author and religion scholar Reza Aslan was dropped after six episodes following a controversial anti-Trump tweet by the host. But while “Believer” was still on the air, it was criticised for perpetuating stereotypes and overlooking important scholarship on the subjects it portrayed. Since then, another educational series on religion has skated largely under the radar of scholars.

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Practical Dimensions of Interfaith Dialogue

Interfaith dialogue should be relevant to the context of religious plurality that characterises today’s world. It should address the problems, conflicts, and tensions that threaten the harmonious and peaceful coexistence, in an effort to prevent the exploitation of religious sentiments in exacerbating division. In this wise, there are many practical activities which may be taken up as a fruit of interfaith dialogue.

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Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902 C.E.) was a Hindu monk and a patriotic saint of India. According to English calendar he was born on 12th January 1863 into an aristocratic Bengali family of Calcutta. However his birthday is celebrated according to Hindu calendar and this day is known as Swami Vivekananda Jayanti. The Indian government has decided to observe Swami Vivekananda’s Gregorian date of birth as National Youth Day. Hence National Youth Day of India is celebrated each year on 12th January since 1985.

Vivekananda was born on Krishna Paksha Saptami after seven days of Paush Purnima. The birth anniversary according to Indian Panchang for 2018 is 8 January. In 1893 Swami Vivekananda went to the United States to join the Parliament of the World’s Religions where he got overwhelming success and public attention. For next four years, from 1893 to 1897, he travelled through various cities of the United States and England, and gave a series of lectures on religion and Vedanta. He came back to India in 1897 via Colombo. He then gave 17 lectures, Lectures from Colombo to Almora. In honour of Swami Vivekananda, we bring you the first lecture, given at Colombo, January 16, 1897.

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Why do Hindus worship idols?

The Divine is known to be spirit, beyond human form and comprehension. Yet, in many cultures the divine takes birth, lives a life, gives a teaching, crushes evil and leaves a path for the human to tread to the goal of life. In Hinduism, there are many, many names and forms of the divine, all with particular significance. These idols of the Divine bring forth so many graces, protections, ways and means of spiritual progress for aspirants.

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Guru Gobind Singh

Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the 10th Sikh Guru of Nanak. He was born at Patna, Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666. His birthday sometimes falls either in December or January or even both months in the Gregorian calendar. The annual celebration of the Guru’s birthday is based on the Nanakshahi calendar. In January o f2018, there is not any observance of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti.

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