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The Academic Symposium was a half-day academic conference, with contributions from prominent leaders in the academic and business arenas. The theme was especially significant in light of the current financial crisis that rocked the foundations of our global financial architecture from late 2008, and the symposium helped to enlighten us about the situation we are in, as well as to stimulate a new mode of thinking for the future.

Prof. Lai Chi-tim, Chairman of the CUHK Department of Cultural and Religious Studies (CRS), officially commenced the symposium with opening remarks to welcome all participants and speakers. He raised the important point that we need to develop an array of measures that take into account broader definitions of human well-being, and stated that it is here where religion can offer some resources and concepts that can help us to cultivate a more comprehensive measure of progress.

The Academic Symposium appealed to a broad spectrum of society, and was attended by academics, business people, practitioners, social activists, and students. It brought together thinkers from cross-religious, cross-academic, and cross-practitioner backgrounds, to engage in creative dialogue about two very relevant, pertinent (and seemingly distinct) topics: religion and economics.

Two distinguished keynote speakers stimulated the discussion: Prof. Leslie Young (Click here for speech) (Professor of Finance；Executive Director of The Asia-Pacific Institute of Business, Chinese University of Hong Kong) spoke from an economic perspective, and Prof. Kung Lap Yan (Click here for speech) (Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong) presented from a religious perspective. Their speeches were used as a springboard for discussion amongst the respondents, whom included: Mr. Christophe Bongars, Dr. Ed Irons, Prof. Kong Siew-huat, Prof. Ivette Vargas- O’Bryan, and Prof. Ellen Zhang.

This was followed by a lively and well-informed discussion amongst all participants of the symposium, examining timely questions such as: what is the economic situation we are in and how did we get here? What is relationship between religion and economics, and the role of religion in economic crisis? How can we help each other from the standpoint of religion? What strategies, arrangements and communities can religions offer?

The Academic Symposium thereby brought together the confluence of two different modes of discourse - economics and religion. In doing so, it offered new hope and ideas for sustainable material and spiritual progress, and ultimately highlighted the fact that the two spheres may actually be closely interconnected after all.

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The Parliament of World Religions is the first instance of global dialogue between the religious and spiritual traditions of East and West in human history. Convened every 5 years, the Parliament of World Religions brings together the world’s religious and spiritual communities, their leaders and their followers to a gathering where peace, diversity and sustainability are discussed and explored in the context of interreligious understanding and cooperation.

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The Interfaith Musical Evening was a unique evening of diverse devotional and artistic performances, with contributions from a total of 10 different local religious communities, including: the Bahá’í Faith, Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Protestant Christianity, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.

Audience participate in 'Hearing each other, Healing the world' by signing the Parliament of World Religions banner at the reception lobby. This banner, along with other materials and resources, has been sent to the Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne, Australia.

Prof. Lai Chi-tim, Chairman of the CUHK Department of Cultural and Religious Studies (CRS), officially commenced the evening with an opening speech to welcome all honored guests and VIPS. This was followed by the signing ceremony of the ‘Declaration to the Parliament of World Religions’. The declaration, written in collaboration with Hong Kong’s local religious communities and CRS students, was signed by leaders from ten different religions, teachers and student representatives. The list included: The Rt. Rev. Thomas Soo (Christianity), Mr. Lai Sze Nuen (Buddhism), Mr. Lai Ka Chee (Confucianism), Mr. Ng Yiu-tung (Taoism), Iman Uthman Yang Xing Ben (Islam), Ms. Rosalie Tran (Bahá’í Faith), Rev. Dr. Ha Keloon Louis (Catholicism), Mr. Avtar Singh (Sikhism), Ervad Homyar Nasirabadwala (Zoroastrianism), and Ms. Bhavatarini Devi Dasi (Hinduism).

The declaration promoted global interreligious harmony and dialogue, as well as the positive role of religion in the globalized era, and set the tone for an evening mutual respect and hope.

Student representatives from the CUHK Dept. of Cultural and Religious Studies read the Declaration in Chinese and English.

The performances that followed involved a sharing of the different local religious communities’ devotional and sensorial dimensions, and included:

Song and dance from the Islamic Union of HK

Choir singers from the Confucian Academy Ho Pui Chun Secondary School

Professional soprano Ms. Rosaline Pi, Catholic community

Kirtan from Khalsa Diwan (Sikh Temple) Hong Kong

Song and instrumental performance from Yitongtang, Protestant Christian community

Song and instrumental performance from Ms. Katy Porray and Ms. Fei Hong, Bahá’í community

The 'Gift Exchange' Ceremony in-between each performance showed harmony and friendship between the religious communities.

Song and dance from International Buddhist Progress Society HK

Scripture recitations from Ervad H. Nasirabadwala, Zoroastrian community

Orchestral performance from the Hong Kong Taoist Association

Dance and chanting from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Hong Kong

The wide variety of devotional performances and styles highlighted the wonderful unity in diversity amongst the different religions.

MCs Ms. Rochelle Yang and Mr. Li Chun Hong

The Interfaith Musical Evening came to a very successful close with all the different religious communities, religious representatives, teachers and student representatives, gathering on stage again for a final group photo.

Steering Committee members: Ms. Esther Cheng, Ms. Michele Wong, Prof. Avron Boretz, Dr. Glenn Shive, Prof. Lai Chi Tim, Prof. David Palmer

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The Parliament of World Religions is the first instance of global dialogue between the religious and spiritual traditions of East and West in human history. Convened every 5 years, the Parliament of World Religions brings together the world’s religious and spiritual communities, their leaders and their followers to a gathering where peace, diversity and sustainability are discussed and explored in the context of interreligious understanding and cooperation.

Click here to read media reports (Wenwei Po, Kung Kao Po).

As one of the host organizers, the China State Administration of Religious Affairs sent an 11-member delegation to participate in the conference. Lu Jin Guang, head of the delegation stated in her opening speech: “This conference is held at this special time right after the National Day celebration of the People’s Republic of China, and before the anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland. It is a dedication to the 60^th anniversary of China’s foundation, and the 10^th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland.” She continued, “All religious organizations in Macau including the Baha’is are in faithful support to the “One country-Two systems” policy, love the country and Macau, and support the Macau Special Administrative Region government in serving the community well-being. They have done much to promote social harmony and made positive contributions to Macau’s sustainable prosperity, social stability and development, which we appreciate very much.”

Director Lu went on to point out that Macau’s beautiful future still needs the continuous joint effort of all social communities, including the religious community. She set the tone for the event by emphasizing: “This is not an ordinary conference, but an academic platform of mutual exchange and cooperation. Under the concept of building harmony together, we adopt a scientific working approach of theory and practice, from different perspectives of religious practitioners and scholars and social science workers, with the attitude of mutual respect and mutual learning, to pay our special love to China’s 60^th-year birthday and Macau’s 10^th-year return to motherland.”

Ms. Lu Jin Guang, head of the delegation from the State Administration of Religious Affairs, making a speech at the opening ceremony

In elucidating that harmony is “the highest order of nature, the pursuit of the highest ideals of mankind”, Ms. Lu stressed: “Harmony is the core concept and basic spirit of Chinese traditional culture, the ideal state that the Chinese nation relentlessly pursuits. The Bahá’í Faith is also a religion that pursues harmony. The Bahá’í teaching of “The World is One Family” shows their good wish of world harmony, which is basically similar to the Chinese traditional culture of “harmony is the highest value,” “harmony with diversity”, “maintain own beauty, appreciate others’ beauty, keep the common-beauty, and unite the world”. She concluded by saying, “I hope this conference will help to promote people’s motivation to build a harmonious community, and help religion to play a more active role in the promotion of social harmony.”

Dr. Kong Siu Huat, President of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Macau, made his speech on behalf of the host. He explained that active dialogue to explore issues of common concern is the main component of building discourse on social action. In the process of building a harmonious society, building discourse has no doubt a positive and constructive role, which is a main component of the emerging Bahá’í community culture. Then Dr. Kong Siu Huat briefly introduced the Bahá’í faith’s efforts in promoting social development, prosperity and harmony around the globe from two aspects: “putting Bahá’í theory into practice” and “training human resources for building a harmonious society”. He said, “Bahá’ís experience will show the world that in the process of building a harmonious society, the two major human knowledge systems - science and religion - not only can play a vital role, but also are complementary and indispensable.” Finally, he said he was happy to share through this conference the Bahá’í experiences in various fields and regions around the globe. The Bahá’ís are looking forward to make their contribution to China’s development, prosperity and harmony.

Dr. Kong Siu Huat, President of the Spritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Macau, made his speech at the opening ceremony as the host representative

The Institute of World Religions, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as one of the co-organizers, also sent a delegation to the conference. As head of the delegation, deputy director of the Institute, Professor Jin Ze said at the opening ceremony that the 30-year’s reform and opening up was in parallel with the state and religion’s development and progress over the 30 years.” Religions constantly adapt to social development and progress, and strive to play an active role, but also ushered in the ‘golden age’ for their own development and progress.” He elaborated the value and role of religion in Chinese society from the three contexts of “harmony”, “culture” and “charity”. He expressed confidently, “Chinese religion that has hundreds of millions of Chinese religious believers, will certainly comply with the requirements of the times to make a special contribution for the country’s development, national revival, and the people’s well-being.”

Professor Jin Ze, deputy director of the Institute of World Religions, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, speaking at the opening ceremony.

Representatives of the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity shared their activities of “building discourse on religion, science and development” in India that was implemented in collaboration with Bahá’í International Community. They specifically described the working experience of FUNDAEC, a Bahá’í development organization, emphasizing that the organization’s approach to development arises from two kinds of knowledge and practice system: science and religion, and pointed out: “In the end, the breadth and depth of positive social change will depend on a variety of interrelated and inter-influencing ‘discourse construction’.”

The event was attended by participants from 40 universities and research institutions and religious organizations from both home and abroad.  

The conference was also sponsored by the Social and Cultural Bureau, the Tourist Bureau of Macau Special Administration Region Government, and the Macau Foundation.

Participants were also invited to participate in the 190^th anniversary of the Bab’s birthday party on 19^th October, which was organized by the Bahá’í Association of Macao at the School of the Nations. A variety of art programs were performed at the party, which won the participants’ praise and appreciation.

Representatives from the Spritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Macau, and the Institute of World Religions, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences