Soka Gakkai Participates in World Interfaith Congress in Astana

On September 17 and 18, the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, under the theme “Dialogue of Religions: Synergy for the Future.” The event brought together over 100 delegations from some 60 countries, including leaders from the Buddhist, Christian, Daoist, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Shinto and Zoroastrian faith traditions. Representatives from academia, civil society, international organizations and governments also attended. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who chaired the event, gave opening remarks. Discussions centered on the role of religion in peace and stability, digital-age ethics, AI’s societal impact, and combating violence, radicalism and intolerance. Yoshiyuki Nagaoka, executive director of the Soka Gakkai Office of International Affairs, attended the congress, and on September 18, he moderated a breakout session titled “Spiritual Values in the Age of Digital Reality and Artificial Intelligence.”