Under the main theme “Religions for Peace: Confronting Violence and Advancing Shared Security,” the Eighth World Assembly of the World Conference of Religions for Peace was held in Kyoto, Japan, from August 26 to 29. Across the differences of religious traditions, the delegates participating in the World Assembly promoted interfaith dialogue for the purpose of advancing global peace.<\/p>\n
Attending the conference were about 2,000 religious and political leaders from more than 100 countries and regions, including HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, and former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. This year, the World Assembly has returned to Kyoto for the first time in 36 years. Since the inaugural conference held there in 1970, the World Conference of Religions for Peace has convened its world assemblies in several countries, including Belgium, the U.S.A., and Kenya.<\/p>\n
On the morning of August 26, when the assembly opened, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi delivered a speech as a guest of honor. As for Tenrikyo, Administrative Affairs Department Head Yoshiaki Uno participated in the opening ceremony.<\/p>\n
On the final day, the 29th, Tenrikyo sent three representatives–Director-in-Chief of Administrative Affairs Masahiko Iburi, General Affairs Department Head Akio Shikao, and Overseas Department Vice Head Yoichiro Miyamori–to the last plenary session and the closing ceremony, in which the assembly delegates committed themselves to work together and make an active contribution to “stopping war, ending poverty, and protecting the earth.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Under the main theme “Religions for Peace: Confronting Violence and Advancing Shared Security,” the Eighth World Assembly of the World Conference of Religions for Peace was held in Kyoto, Japan, from August 26 to 29. Across the differences of religious traditions, the delegates participating in the World Assembly promoted interfaith\u2026<\/p>\n