TEHRAN On Tuesday, the second session of interfaith dialog between Iran and Japan took place in Tokyo. It was focused on Environment in Islam and Shinto.
The Iranian Cultural Center in Japan organized the event in cooperation with Islamic Culture and Relations Organization. A number of religious and cultural officials from both countries attended the event via video conference or in person.
Ali Mashhadi is an associate professor of Qom University’s Faculty of Law. He stated that religious teachings are essential to the preservation and protection of the environment.
He stated that religion is so important in protecting the environment and nature of our world today, that many consider theology and religious teachings to be among the most important ways to do this.
He said that both Islam (and Shinto) have a deep spiritual awareness of the elements and the environment.
These concepts can be promoted and developed to increase awareness of nature and to prevent moral and spiritual crises in the modern world’s dealings with the environment.
This is important in two different ways. He highlighted two important aspects. The first is the importance of the elements in nature in Islam and Shinto. The second is the growing environmental crisis in the present world and the need to control it using the power of religions.
He stated that the teachings of the Abrahamic religions such as Shinto are inherently very profound to address the current crisis of environmental destruction.
He also stressed that the current environmental crisis cannot be solved without paying particular attention to the spiritual aspect of the problem. Religion can play a significant role in compensating for and reducing the severity.
The first session of the religious dialog, which was held in Ise, Japan, was held on the occasion the 40th anniversary the victory of Islam Revolution and the 90th anniversary the establishment of official relations between Iran, Japan and Iran in February 2016. It was entitled Family in Islam, Shinto and featured scholars from both countries.
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