MANILA, December 12, 2009—Selected scholars and communicators from different parts of the Asia are set to attend a discussion on religions and social communication.

This roundtable is organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference-Office of Social Communication (FABC-OSC) and the Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication (ARC).

It is scheduled on February 8-11, 2010 at the Saint John’s University in Bangkok, Thailand.

FABC opined that communication in human society is not only a matter of information technology, of business and even cultural relations but also involves religion and religious practices.

“The study of religion and social communication can, thus, be oriented towards the communication flow and practice within a religion. This includes rituals, religious services but also communication between persons, person to God (or Deity) communication and vice versa,” says FABC.

Among the matters to be discussed are ways in building awareness on communication developments in their relation to religion and religious practices; identifying possible concrete projects and proposals based on an inclusive view that considers all Asian religions and beyond Christianity and the strategic future plans that can contribute to a deeper understanding of related issues.

The discussion aimed to animate, support and accompany researches on religion and social communication; develop links with scholars and centers with similar concerns, academic and beyond and; seek financial support for research initiatives in order to build up the ARC and its bi-annual research journal.

The ARC was established in 1999 through the first initiated roundtable discussion that was organized by the FABC-OSC in Bangkok.

It then published a bi-annual research journal entitled, "Journal on Religion and Social Communication." (Kate Laceda)