Feature story
Prof. Dr Angeliki Ziaka, WCC programme executive for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation, explained that the dialogue was part of a series with a clear purpose to foster meaningful dialogue, mutual understanding, and shared reflection across religious and cultural traditions.
“Throughout this series, we explore religious dialogue from both academic and practical perspectives, and we examine mainly how different religious traditions engage with one another, how global challenges and conflict affect interreligious relations, and how dialogue can become a transformative force in our communities and in our common world,” she said.
Venerable Phramaha Napan Santibhaddo (Thawornbanjob), a Thai Buddhist monk whose work bridges ancient moral wisdom and contemporary sustainable development, was the main presenter.
Venerable Santibhaddo (Thawornbanjob) is also assistant abbot of Wat Saket Rajavaramahavihara in Bangkok, secretary-general of Religions for Peace Thailand, and founding chair of the IBHAP Foundation.
“We see things in the way that we know that what we think, what we communicate, what we do—our ways affect ourselves and affect other people surrounding us,” he said. “But if we don't do this—if we don't take care of each other, if we don't open space for understanding of each other, when something bad happens, especially at this time in the world, it's just like AI: this misinformation can cause damage to our coexistence, and if you don't
prevent it from happening, when it happens, there's always a high price to pay.”
The online intergenerational learning series is an initiative of the WCC Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation Reference Group in collaboration with the Young People in the Ecumenical Movement programme.
It is designed primarily for young people with a background or interest in theology, ecumenical studies, and interreligious engagement, while also welcoming students, practitioners, alumni of ecumenical institutes, members of WCC-affiliated churches, interreligious partners, and others interested in the field.
