More than 200 attend World Religion Day

Sarah Reilly Pancoast

"I ... didn't even know that we (have) so many different sets of, you know, religions and groups in Shreveport," she said.
Horton was one of the more than 200 people to attend the area's fifth World Religion Day, which seeks to spread information and understanding about religions and cultures.
The event, held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Shreveport, is a local observance of the 54-year-old worldwide event.
Two new groups, Eckankar, the religion of the light and sound of God, and the First Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA, joined the event, bringing the total to 15 presenters. All participating groups have some members in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, said Kay Loftin, public relations co-chair for the event.
Those in attendance could peruse information tables set up in a main auditorium and could also attend presentations in classrooms.
Another facet of the program was a new entertainment portion with performances from some of the groups, such as a chant lead by the group representing the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
SuZanne Rue is an Eckist, and is also public relations co-chair for World Religion Day. She said she was pleased with the response her group had gotten.
"I have seen ... nothing negative here at all. Each one of the different organizations are very respectful and very appreciative that we're all together. ... There's a spiritual maturity in this area that people don't realize we have," she said.
Sherry Lyon is a member of the Covenant of the Pentacle Wiccan Church-ATC and agreed the interest she has seen has been respectful. Lyon said she gets some people who question her intently, "but I like that because it gives me a chance to educate. I don't take it as an insult or a challenge, I take it as a chance to educate."