From Head of Religious Education, Martina Cooper
On Wednesday 12 June, a group of Year 11 Studies of Religion students, accompanied by Ms Binyamin and Mr Boumelhem, attended the prestigious, annual interfaith conference hosted by Moriah College. It consisted of followers of the three Abrahamic faiths, engaging in controversial topics about their religious practices. Waverley College students represented Christianity, Moriah students Judaism and Islam was represented by Auburn Girls High School and The Australian Islamic College. This allowed the students to converse with peers in a dynamic learning environment, breaking down social and cultural stereotypes.
The day began with an introduction to the three religions, starting off with a personalised prayer from each tradition, showcasing the various ways that each attains spiritual guidance. After the prayers, the participants had the opportunity to interact and communicate with others, learning about their heritage and spiritual backgrounds.
Following this, students were broken into eight different groups to explain and discuss significant religious symbols and practices. This allowed students to interact and collaborate to learn about symbols that they might not have understood before the conference. This activity was then followed by a panel of experts who answered pressing questions regarding each of their faiths in a contemporary context. The day concluded with a tour of the synagogue with an opportunity to reflect on the day and construct new questions.
Overall, it was an engaging and rewarding experience.
