TAIPEI, Nov 9 (Reuters) - A museum that puts Buddhism, Christianity and Islam under one roof opened in Taiwan on Friday with the aim of promoting understanding and tolerance of the world's main religions.
"I cannot imagine a more important time for the museum to be opening," said Buddhist monk Hsin Tao, the founder of the Museum of World Religions, referring to the devastating September 11 attacks on U.S. landmarks and a U.S.-led war against terrorism.
Religious and cultural leaders from 34 countries were invited to attend the opening ceremony and a two-day conference on how to protect sacred religious sites.
It was believed to be the first museum of its kind, said Lawrence Sullivan, director of the Centre for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School.
The museum has collected a wide range of religious artefacts, works of art and interactive multimedia displays. It was designed by Ralph Appelbaum, who also designed the Holocaust Memorial Museum in the United States.
04:31 11-09-01