the 21st International Seminar for Intercultural PCC
took place
in Haifa / Israel
September 2009, 4 - 10
Differences as Opportunity
Care and counselling in multi-cultural and multi-religious societies
The example of Haifa, Israel
Program PDF
first impressions here
In Haifa members of various religions live peacefully together. There are major communities like Orthodox and Liberal Jews, Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians, Muslims, Achmadis, the Bahá'í-religion and of course people who are a-religious and agnostic.
What is the reason that there are no open conflicts between these groups? Are there social reasons or religious reasons? Or is it the history of this city which makes the citizens more open for others than in other places in Israel? Can Haifa be an example or even a model for living together in multi-cultural and multi-religious societies?
The Seminar aims to give a first insight into the situation of the city and the people of Haifa. The main focus will be to learn more about the various religions which are present in this city and about their care for people.
That will encourage the participants to reflect their own religious background and their attitude to cultural and religious sensibility and tolerance.
This seminar will be a further step for SIPCC to develop further an hermeneutics of interreligious pastoral care and counselling and of social and political means of building "communities of the different" .
first impressions and comments (here)
