Finding Common Ground for Peace Through Scripture

HWPL Hosts Interfaith Scripture Comparison Discussion in Seoul

An interfaith dialogue event titled “Window of Religion: Scripture Comparison Discussion” was held on October 22 at the Good Life Seminar Room in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, exploring the shared values of peace, love, and compassion found in the sacred texts of Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.

The event aimed to deepen mutual understanding among religions by comparing teachings within their scriptures and discussing how these values can be practiced in daily life.

Shared Teachings from Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam

The discussion was hosted by Inside People and the Namsan Religious Union Office, with sponsorship from the Yongsan Senior Club. The session was moderated by Choi Seul-ji, Co-Representative of the Women’s Human Rights Development Association.

After a welcoming video and congratulatory remarks, the program featured peace activity reports, cultural performances, and scripture presentations from three speakers:

• Im Hyun-ji (Christian lecturer)

• Kim Jin-gwan (Buddhist monk, Beopsa)

• Kim Won-taek (Islamic Imam)

Each presented the origins, structure, and core teachings of their respective scriptures, highlighting how the common spiritual values of love, mercy, and peace can unite believers across faiths.

“Peace Begins with Understanding”

During the Christian presentation, Im Hyun-ji emphasized that the Bible testifies to God’s will and the path of salvation, calling for unity rather than division. Referring to Ephesians, she stated that “true peace begins when religious leaders continue dialogue and cooperation beyond denominational boundaries.”

Ven. Kim Jin-gwan, representing Buddhism, explained the concept of emptiness (śūnyatā) from the Heart Sutra, noting that “all phenomena arise and cease through conditions.” He emphasized that “by emptying attachment and cultivating wisdom (prajñā), one can overcome fear and reach enlightenment.” He concluded, “Compassion in action—living without harming others—is the true practice of peace.”

Imam Kim Won-taek, presenting on Islam, introduced the Qur’an as the word of God and the Hadith as the recorded sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad. He noted that “faith in one God, practicing justice and mercy, and remembering the final day form the essence of Islam.” He added, “True faith is revealed through good deeds and social responsibility in daily life.”

Dialogue and Reflection: Peace Beyond Differences

During the Q&A session, participants discussed differences in interpretation, practical application in daily life, and ways to reduce generational and interreligious conflict. The presenters agreed that “reading each other’s scriptures and understanding core values firsthand” and “creating regular spaces for local dialogue” are effective solutions.

Audience members shared reflections such as, “The languages of our scriptures differ, but our goals of peace, compassion, and love are the same.”

The organizers stated, “Sharing and living out the true meaning of sacred texts is the beginning of restoring trust within local communities,” adding that future sessions will continue to expand interfaith understanding through regular scripture comparison forums.

Promoting Institutionalized Peace

During the event, Kim Beom-jun, a research director, explained that HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light)—a UN ECOSOC special consultative NGO—is active in 170 countries with over 580,000 members worldwide.
He added that “the universal values of love, compassion, and peace found in scriptures should be institutionalized globally through the DPCW (Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War).”

The event concluded with participants sharing a meal and discussing future collaboration for ongoing interfaith dialogue.

Source: https://vo.la/4z2KZxx