The 3rd HWPL International Religious Peace Academy

 

 

On January 11, 18, and 25, 2025 (Saturdays), the 3rd HWPL International Religious Peace Academy (IRPA) was held online at 9 AM, 2 PM, and 9 PM (UTC) for an international audience. A total of 1,212 participants from 100 countries attended this session. Unlike previous sessions, not only religious leaders but also social leaders took part. This expanded participation strengthened solidarity between religious and social leaders, laying a new foundation for cooperation in establishing a culture of peace.

During the three-week IRPA program, religious leaders representing five faiths—Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism—each delivered a 15-minute lecture based on their respective scriptures. In total, 15 religious leaders served as lecturers.

Lecture Topics at the 3rd IRPA

• Week 1: About the Beginning of Man
• Week 2: Holy and Unholy Trees and Their Fruits in Religious Scriptures
• Week 3: About Forgiveness of Sin

The in-depth exploration of various religious scriptures facilitated active exchanges among global religious leaders. Even after the lectures ended, participants pledged to continue their efforts to deepen their understanding of one another’s religions and religious texts.

Sarma Aryasomayajula, President of the Siva Alayam Temple in Berlin, highlighted the significance of IRPA, stating: “It is a great initiative to bring all religious leaders onto this platform. It is also great to bring the whole world together, not only some specific regions. When all religions are taught in depth and convey their true messages, all the leaders confirm that, at their core, all religions say the same thing.”

 

 

Zandan Unurjargal, a representative from Khukh Turmus NGO in Mongolia, reflected on the experience: “Listening to the speeches of religious leaders over the past few days has been a very enriching experience for me. I could feel in every word that these people were summarizing their scriptures that have been studied for centuries. I hope that in the future, we will discuss the issues facing humanity from the perspectives of our respective religions and gain valuable insights.”

The 3rd IRPA was a meaningful occasion where religious and social leaders gathered to engage and build solidarity. Continued dialogues that foster mutual understanding and respect will greatly contribute to peaceful coexistence beyond religious and cultural differences. HWPL looks forward to further expanding IRPA as a platform for interfaith cooperation and communication.

For more information about the lecturers and lecture videos from the 3rd IRPA, please visit: http://irpa.hwpl.kr/