Tuesday 1 December 2009

He walked in Jungkat market. He was amazed that the people in those markets can work well together, a stranger like himself who see anything not to be an odd and even received hospitably. Portrait is mentioned Assistant General Dominican Order, Scott Edward Peter Steinkerchner, OP who claimed to admire the interreligious relations in Pontianak, the harmonious and peaceful. In the Dominican Order monastery Pontianak, Monday (30/11) Professor of comparative religion that expresses his admiration with the peace in Pontianak.
Men with a characteristic curved mustache was admitted also interreligious relations (Islamic-Christian) in West Kalimantan are not as reported by the foreign good to say no, it was just the opposite can work together well, using the veil and who did not would not be a problem. "Everything went peacefully," said Scott.

Scott is a Lecturer of Theology in the United States and Macau are admitted also that unlike in Pontianak in Cairo (Egypt). In Pontianak, the veiled woman, dressed in jeans is a unique phenomenon, indicating pluralism flourished here. He then told about other factors that demonstrate when Pontianak safe and peaceful, when he saw a demonstration on Bundaran UNTAN refused kondomisasi Sunday (29/11) took place safe and orderly, unlike overseas demonstration that tends to show anarchism. "The security here can smile," said Scott. But peace is not enough, according to Scott, local governments should also promote togetherness, for peace and pluralism are taught from an early age through education.

Education should not be exclusive, but rather had to be together and so the knowledge of the universal religious differences make the students understand and can address what a difference. On the one hand, the exclusive religious schools also play an important role to distance children from the knowledge of pluralism. "If it had to a religious school there is an emphasis on students' multicultural understanding, so that the good relations existing can take place," said Scott. He pointed out in Pakistan, the school founded the Dominican Order, quality, and religion is not a barrier boundary, because the students are taught to not discriminate, even though the Catholic schools of other religions should be taught as a science, because only with understanding then that person will be able to appreciate one another.

Dialog Interreligious
dialogue was not done to identify or find the equation, but to increasingly recognize the difference interreligious, thus creating more respect religion. "The difference is the fact, but that's what enables us to serve each other and live in harmony," said Scott. West Kalimantan differ according to which many of Macau's casino, or Nepal are always short of electricity and telephone. West Kalimantan fertile soil, difficult to be categorized poor, could throw the seed to grow. "The funny thing is there are still many who live below the poverty line," said him.