Interfaith Dialogue 2009
About
This year the Interfaith program of the Forum 2000 Conference deals with an important question of the relation between religion and democracy. The modern concept of democracy developed on the basis of religious thought, among other influences. Many significant thinkers on democracy (from Tocqueville to Böckenferde) have perceived religion as an important grounding for democracy. In many places in the world (from the Philippines to Poland) faith-based communities have contributed significantly to the peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy and civic society in the 20th century. At the same time, however, in other parts of the world religious symbols and rhetoric have been used to attack democracy and its key concept of freedom. Panelists will try to answer following questions:
- What is the real relation between religion and democracy?
- How is the concept of democracy compatible with the great world religions?
- Are contemporary democratic regimes suitable biospheres for religion, or are they rather risky environments for them?
- What do democratic states expect from religion, religious leaders and faith-based communities?
- Is the concept of "separation of politics from religion" still a valid model contributing to both sides, or has the time come to rethink and substitute an alternative model?
An annual meeting, organized in cooperation with the Prague Academic Parish, will take a form of a debate on the interfaith dialogue. Its forms and problems in different parts of the world will be discussed.
