Inter-religious Program Held in Tokyo

Hideo Oyamada
December 23, 2010
UPF -- Japan

Tokyo, Japan -- UPF-Japan held an Inter-religious Program in Tokyo on December 23 with the support of the "Association of Religious Ambassadors for Peace." The program was held as the first half of the 40th Ambassadors for Peace Meeting, a bimonthly seminar series of UPF-Japan, with more than 50 participants. It was also held as a part of the "Abel UN Peace Campaign" which UPF had initiated worldwide in its efforts to form a model of global governance.

The program was carried out solemnly by the representatives of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. They prayed according to their own tradition as they lit candles symbolizing each religion. This signified the genesis of the great light leading human beings to the world of peace and creating harmony among all religions.

At the end of the program, all participants recited the "Family Pledge," which Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, the Founder of UPF, called "the most significant of all prayers."

After the inter-religious program, Rev. Shinobu Ishimaru, Master of Theology and Director of International Affairs of the Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace, gave a Christmas message. He mentioned that Jesus was seeking for an Ambassador for Peace whom he could entrust his mission to and that St. Francis Xavier, the first Catholic missionary to Japan, was a pioneer to receive the baton of Jesus' mission. Then, pointing out that Rev. Moon is the very person whom Jesus trusts completely, he stated that Rev. Moon and the Ambassadors for Peace are like the receivers of the light that appear in the genesis of the great light.

In the second half of the meeting, the participants enjoyed live performances and games. Several talented participants sang Christmas songs and performed on the shamisen (literally means "three-flavor strings"), a Japanese traditional instrument. The bingo game which has become the year-end event of the Ambassadors for Peace Meetings excited all the participants and was the highlight of the program.