International authority on interfaith dialogue, Jeremy Jones AM, will be discussing how Australia has the potential to be a world leader in the area when he is the keynote speaker at the Bendigo Interfaith Council's Harmony Day celebration.
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"It is night and day when you look at 30 years ago.
"We have a situation where it is now natural in many parts of Australia, if people have a problem facing the community, to think who can we recruit as our allies.
"The openness to working with and learning from others has taken off in a big way," Mr Jones said.
Mr Jones said for many people it takes a shock, such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks or Asia Pacific tsunamis to learn more about their neighbours.
"Australia took the idea of interfaith dialogue to the Asia Pacific after the tsunamis.
"There was a meeting in Indonesia, organised by Australia on the theme of people from different religions working together to deal with problems facing communities and societies.
"A year later, the same group met and until that meeting, the Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus were working on their own," Mr Jones said.
It is this interfaith collaboration that has taken off in recent times thanks to an evolutionary way of thinking.
"Some churches in Australia on their most sacred days of Easter and Christmas, are trying to further their own religious message in a way that spreads the message to others.
"Celebrating your own religion is not a threat to anyone else, but a reason to be excited to be building a better community and better Australia," Mr Jones said.
Building Harmony: A Community Approach takes place at The Conservatory, All Seasons 171-183 McIvor Road, Strathdale on Thursday, 19 March from 6pm.
Tickets are $55 each, with a range of culturally appropriate meals available on request.
For all enquiries, call 0472 917 391.
Book online at www.trybooking.com/BHMWK
