World Interfaith Harmony Week celebrated in Kona

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in 2010 that the first week in February to be celebrated as World Interfaith Harmony Week. The UN resolution affirmed that mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue were necessary elements in building a global culture of peace.

The General Assembly resolution is meant to encourage programs on a global scale to spread the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill. Such celebrations are to take place in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and at other sites. The theme of the week is “Love of God and Love of the Neighbor, or Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbor.”

Participating in this global celebration, a local nonprofit, the Pacific Rim Education Foundation (PREF), is sponsoring a unique event in Kona. It will involve representatives of various spiritual traditions presenting favorite passages from their sacred scriptures, offering comments and welcoming discussion. This will allow voices from different traditions to be heard and explained, hopefully opening a realm of greater understanding and appreciation by all.

The program is to include wisdom readings from the Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Unificationist and New Thought traditions; there are also to be experiences of chanting, music and dance.

All this will be preceded by a potluck dinner.

“Interfaith respect and connection is a critical component in moving toward a more spiritually enlightened and peaceful world. This event is an opportunity in Kona to contribute to that process,” said Farley Jones, president of PREF.

The gathering will take place at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8 at Hawaiian Queen Coffee Garden, 78-1045 Henry Street, across from and up from the Safeway store.

All are welcome.

Info: Farley at prefpeace@gmail.com.