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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Le Quartier Cultuel de Bussy Saint George

Le Quartier Cultuel de Bussy Saint George

11 Allée Madame de Montespan, 77600 Bussy-Saint-Georges

RELIGIONS Judaism, Catholic, Protestant, Islam, Orthodox, Buddhism

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SITE

DESCRIPTION
The religious district of Bussy Saint George is a unique place in France. This neighborhood plans to create an "esplanade of religions". This vast project initiated by the mayor of this new city in eastern Paris provides for the construction of several places of worship on the same plot. Two Lao and Taiwan pagodas have already been inaugurated. A few meters away is the mosque that will soon be facing a synagogue, whose plans have been validated and the main concrete slab has been poured. Added to this is an Armenian cultural center and an evangelical Chinese church to complete this project.
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE
This project was made possible by the situation of this mushroom town, whose population grew from 500 inhabitants in the 1980s to nearly 30,000 today, and the will of its mayor, Hugues Rondeau. In command of the city since 1996, the elected representative describes the city as "incredibly cosmopolitan". Indeed, it welcomes 40% of inhabitants from the Pacific area. This cosmopolitanism allowed then to bring into the head of the elected and the faithful of each cult, a multicultural project where the places, as well as the faithful ones will be able to cross each other, to exchange, and to know each other better.
INTER-RELIGIOUS RELEVANCE
This association demonstrates the will to live together, respect between beliefs, communities and individuals. This shows first of all a progressive will on the part of the mayor and his elected representatives, but also to live together between the different religions and communities. The town hall has supported the various communities by offering them land at low prices, € 50 per square meter, which is twice the price of the market. But the cost of the construction, it is assumed by the donations of the faithful. This demonstrates the willingness of the faithful to participate in this interfaith project unique in France, and open to dialogues between different faiths.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
This place influences the sharing, the acquaintance, as well as the respect between the different religions. The willingness of the public authorities as well as that of the faithful to rub shoulders closely, that is to say when their places of worship are neighbors testifies to this desire to dialogue between different religions. This first experience of "neighborhood worship" is new in France, it was in the past already created in various other countries, and if it is conclusive, it could then allow to multiply this example in other French cities. This novelty could then have a real influence on the French interreligious dialogue, but also on the evolution of the thoughts of the faithful belonging to several religious communities, but also and especially on that of the public authorities.
HOW TO USE WITH THE STUDENTS
The students can make direct visits in this "cultural district", to meet the faithful belonging to the different religious confessions whose places of worship are located in this district. It would seem very interesting to be able to discuss with individuals to question the question of living together and the importance of dialogue between religions.
REFERENCE TO THE GUIDELINE

    MEDIA RESOURCES

    VIDEOS

    • L'esplanade des religions à Bussy-Saint-Georges, un lieu unique.
      In this youtube video of the French news channel "Itélé", the journalist describes the different places of worship present in the religious district. Residents and faithful of several denominations (Jewish, Muslim, Catholic) are interviewed and promote dialogue between different religions through the creation of this neighborhood.

    LINKS

    • Bussy de tous les saints.
      In this article, the journalist explains that the mayor of Bussy-Saint-Georges wanted to create the first district welcoming places of prayer of various faiths, especially because of the cosmopolitanism of the inhabitants of the city, but especially that this unique experience in France allows then a real dialogue between the faithful of each religion whose place of worship is represented in this district.

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    This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.