BALLARAT Interfaith Network\u2019s annual Walk for Peace travelled through the city on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Starting with a smoking ceremony at Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative\u2019s Education Centre on Main Road, participants journeyed by the Canadian Creek and Yarrowee River before heading up Grant Street to Federation University\u2019s SMB Campus.<\/p>\n
BIN chair Margaret Lenan Ellis said the group made an \u201ceye opening\u201d stop at WRISC Family Violence Support on Dana Street, finding out more about their work with women and children escaping unsafe homes, before finishing the journey with an afternoon tea at the Christ Church Cathedral.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were pleased to be able to present the message that religion, and a spiritual grounding in life, is necessary and beneficial to people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those of us from the Indigenous community, Malayalee, Baha’i, Islamic, and various Christian faiths that were able to attend, it was very fruitful and fulfilling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a clear feeling of comradery and friendship, and everybody stayed for refreshments to continue the conversations started.\u201d<\/p>\n
There were addresses at the cathedral from Anglican Dean Father Michael Davies and Muslim community member Azra Alani.<\/p>\n
\u201cQuite often, the world at large criticises religion or accuses it of being the cause of strife and conflict, which of course it can be when used for the wrong reasons,\u201d Ms Lenan Ellis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Azra hit the nail on the head where Islam is concerned, saying there are messages of peace that come from the Quran that are very clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people abuse or misuse, whether it\u2019s fellow believers or non-believers, this is not god\u2019s way at all.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BALLARAT Interfaith Network\u2019s annual Walk for Peace travelled through the city on Sunday afternoon. Starting with a smoking ceremony at Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative\u2019s Education Centre on Main Road, participants journeyed by the Canadian Creek and Yarrowee River before heading up Grant Street to Federation University\u2019s SMB Campus. BIN chair Margaret Lenan Ellis said […]<\/p>\n