Practice and Experience of CCRP in Multi-Religious Action

Practice and Experience of CCRP in Multi-Religious Action
（Address by Master Xuecheng at the ACRP and RfP Workshop in April, 2016）

Distinguished Moderator,
Your Honorable Dr. William F. Vendley,
Your Honorable Dr. Din Syamsuddin,
Dear Friends,
    It is my great pleasure to discuss with delegates representing various religions from the Asia-Pacific region on the theme of “Multi-Religious Action”. I feel enlightened by listening to the RfP introduction and discussions by my dear delegates. Please allow me to share with you briefly, within the time limit, practice and experience of CCRP in this regard. 

    CCRP was founded by representatives from five major religions in China (Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism) in Beijing in July, 1994. In the following more than 20 years, CCRP has adhered to the principles of “Friendliness, Peace,Development and Cooperation”, proactively facilitated unity and harmony of all religious groups in China, and advanced exchanges and cooperation between religious communities of China and the world, and with regional and global organizations of religions for peace. CCRP has managed to have explored useful practice on interfaith actions that are in line with CCRP’s nature.

    I.    CCRP exerts broad and in-depth influence in China

    CCRP is dedicated to promoting harmonious coexistence, exchanges and cooperation among the five major religions in China. In 1995, CCRP held a seminar on commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s war against the Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, where CCRP issued “the Statement of Peace of China’s Religious Communities” and took initiative in praying for peace by the five major religious groups at the national level. Such “praying for peace” programs have been held each year since then. In 2005 and 2015 respectively, CCRP took initiative in praying for peace to commemorate the 60th and the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s war against the Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Commemoration activities and praying meetings of various kinds have been held, thanks to active responses from Buddhists, Taoists, Islamists, Catholics and Protestants in China. The China Buddhist Association and the China Taoist Association have also invited representatives from both sides of the Taiwan Straits, Hong Kong and Macau to attend these activities, and expressed common aspirations of religious communities of China in remembering history, honoring the martyrs, cherishing peace and opposing war, as well as for promoting eternal world peace and development. CCRP held the “Better City, Better Life---Praying for the Success of the World Expo” activity in Shanghai in April, 2010. In addition, CCRP sent an interfaith delegation to Taiwan region, which was consisted of representatives of the five major religions of the mainland party of China. Delegates have had intensive and broad contacts with major religious groups and leaders in the Taiwan region, and exchanged ideas on what roles religion can play in serving the society and facilitating cross-strait relations of peace and development. This has unanimously and favorably received by religious communities at both sides of the strait with vigorous results.

    II.    CCRP carries out pragmatic foreign exchanges to enhance mutual understanding

    CCRP constructively supports RfP and ACRP by taking an extensive part in multi-lateral global and regional interfaith activities and vigorously promoting exchanges and interactions between religious communities of China and the world. CCRP is dedicated to strengthening mutual understanding, respect and cooperation among all religions. CCRP sent a delegation to attend the 6th WCRP assembly as soon as it was founded in 1994. CCRP has been supporting activities of RfP and ACRP in various ways since then. CCRP sponsored the EC meeting of ACRP in 2010. In recent years, CCRP actively sent delegations to attend several international conventions, including the IPCR Seminar, the International Buddhism Advanced Forum, the Asia Women’s Forum and the Youth Camp. CCRP participated in Task Force of ACRP in Program Appeal for Nepal, and thus has facilitated international interfaith exchanges with real actions. In terms of bilateral exchanges, CCRP maintains frequent exchange of visits with KCRP, and has signed agreements with RfP UK and WCRP Japan respectively. CCRP has sent delegations to RfP member states, including the US, Canada, Belgium, France, Russia, Germany, Italy, the UK, and Mexico. CCRP also has received delegations from KCRP, WCRP Japan, RfP/Indonesia and RfP Italy, which as a result, has advanced mutual understanding among peoples in China and elsewhere in the world.

    III. CCRP’s experiences in Multi-Religion Action could be summarized in the following three aspects:

    1、CCRP adheres to the concept of openness and tolerance, and is deep-rooted in traditional domestic culture. “Harmony without Uniformity” and “the Doctrine of the Mean” are both important phenomenon of traditional Chinese culture. CCRP has all along, upheld an open and tolerant mentality to embrace diversity, and has maintained mutual respect and dialogues on an equal footing with various religions and cultures.

    2、CCRP relies on religious doctrines and sticks to serving the society. All major religions in China have given full play to positive concepts of Mercy, Humanity and Love, Middle Path, and Harmony, by calling upon their believers to bear social responsibilities and take active parts in activities of public welfare and charity, in addition to their individual religious practice. Religious groups in China have been advocating harmonious development of both mankind and the nature, and have contributed to China’s national unity, religious harmony and world peace.

    3、CCRP adheres to its own principles and statutes of both RfP and ACRP. CCRP has always attached great importance to roles and influence of RfP and ACRP in world religious circles, vigorously supported activities of both organizations, and carried out external exchanges within frameworks of both organizations. CCRP sticks to its principles and tenets, and follows statutes of both organizations.

    To conclude, please allow me, on behalf of CCRP, to convey our gratitude towards RfP and ACRP. In the future, CCRP stands ready to make further efforts in strengthening self-building, and continue to advance sound cooperation with RfP and ACRP in reinforcing friendliness and cooperation with the world’s multi-religion organizations for peace. Let us contribute our strength together in facilitating interfaith and intercultural dialogues and safeguarding world peace.