What is religious literacy? Why is religious literacy needed in our increasingly diverse society?
Religious literacy – Guide to everyday encounters offers instructions for encounters between religions as well as basic information about seven religions that are active in Finland: The Bahá’í Faith, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, the Hare Krishna movement as a representative of Hinduism, Christianity, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
You can download the guide here.
AUTHORS:
Pia Jardi is, among other things, the chairperson of CORE Forum 2021-2023, general secretary of the Finnish Muslim Forum and vice president of Amal, a women’s organization within the social branch. Jardi works as a social instructor, and she has also been active in party politics.
Gopinath das, aka Timo Ilves, is an active member of the Hare Krishna movement. Within the movement, he is responsible for the rites of passage and for musical arrangements. He is an educated professional musician, and he has a B.Sc. degree in computer science. In India he has studied Vedic scriptures and the religious culture of India.
Melody Karvonen is an active member of the Bahá’í Community. She has had a long career as a Consultant and Trainer for Cross-Cultural Understanding. She has also worked as a construction drafter, as a trainer at the police department, and as an immigrant counselor.
Irma Rinne is the chairperson of the Buddhist Union of Finland and an active member of the Buddhist Dharma Center. She has a Licentiate of Philosophy degree, and until her retirement she worked as amanuensis of musicology at the University of Helsinki.
Mirja Tapola is a primary school teacher for children with special needs and vice-principal in an elementary school in Espoo. She has also taught religion to children, youth and adults in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is also a certified professional supervisor and a member of STOry.
Osmo Vartiainen is Director of Education in the Catholic Church in Finland. He is involved in versatile cooperation, both in Finland and internationally, in the fields of worldview, education, and culture.
Religious working group of the Jewish congregation in Helsinki, among others Simon Livson.
The CORE Forum staff: Katri Kuusikallio (Executive Director), Miina Noroila (Commu- nications Officer) ja Anne Heinola (University Trainee).
