World Parliament of Religions to be held 12/9

arthra

arthra

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I just became aware today that the World Parliament of Religions is being held on December 3rd in Melbourne Australia! This is an event that I think is very optimal for all interfaith oriented people around the world and wondered if people here had heard about it or paln to participate in it in some way..

Here is the Baha'i source about the event:


The 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions will take place December 3 through December 9 in Melbourne, Australia. Based on attendance at previous events, the Melbourne Parliament is expected to bring together 8,000 to 12,000 people to address key topics, including: Healing the Earth with Care and Concern; Securing Food and Water for All People; and Building Peace in Pursuit of Justice.
More than a century ago, Baha'u'llah told Baha'is to "Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship." And Baha'is have been active in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding since the mid-1800s.

A number of American Baha'is plan to participate in the 2009 Parliament, including Brian Lepard -- an international human rights law specialist and Law Alumni Professor of Law at the University of Nebraska

Read more at:

Parliament of the World's Religions holds special place in hearts of American Baha'is | Bahai Faith | Baha'i Faith
 
Parliament of the World's Religions under way in Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia, 4 December (BWNS) – Baha'is from five continents are making presentations at the Parliament of the World's Religions – an event now held every five years in the modern continuation of an initiative begun more than a century ago.

The seven-day parliament, which opened on 3 December in Melbourne, is expected to draw as many as 8,000 individuals from virtually every world religion and faith group. Among those expected to participate are such international figures as the Dalai Lama and theologian Hans Kung.

It was at the inaugural Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in 1893, that the Baha'i Faith received one of its first public mentions in the West.

"That earlier gathering, which in some respects represents the beginning of the interfaith movement, created hope for a new spirit of unity among the religions," said Natalie Mobini, spokeswoman for the Australian Baha'i community.

"The main organizer said later that it had emancipated the world from bigotry," she said. "At first, there indeed were signs of change. But it is apparent that we have a great deal more work to do to achieve our common aim of establishing brotherhood and peace.

"The belief that all the major religions come from God and are part of His plan for humanity is central to the Baha'i Faith," she continued. "Thus the work to strengthen ties among the different religions is an arena of activity that we feel passionately about."

More than 70 Baha'is are attending the Melbourne event, participating at virtually every level of the parliament - from panel discussions on climate change and interfaith relations to artistic presentations to hosting a devotional gathering.

Among the Baha'i participants are:

– Professor Brian Lepard, a human rights specialist from the University of Nebraska in the United States, who is examining from a Baha'i perspective the concept of the right to development. Dr. A.K. Merchant, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India, will speak at the same session.

– Lucretia Warren, a Baha'i from Botswana and a speaker at the past two parliaments, who is participating in a session on "Interfaith and the Future of Africa."

– Native American Kevin Locke, a well-known performer of the Lakota hoop dance, who is leading a session titled "There are no back row seats in the Hoop of Life."

– British authors Moojan Momen and Wendi Momen, who are presenting a panel discussion on "Building Peace in the Pursuit of Justice: A Baha'i Approach."

– Australian Baha'i Arini Beaumaris, who will speak on "Spirituality and Women's Leadership."

– Recording artists Shadi and Shidan Toloui-Wallace, who will perform during the concert of sacred music scheduled for the evening of 6 December.

Baha'is also are making presentations on environmental topics, consistent with the overall theme of the parliament, "Make a world of difference: Hearing each other, healing the earth."

"The healing of the physical planet ... requires that we address spiritual principles," Dr. Mobini added.

Baha'is of Australia are hosting a spiritual observance open to all participants at the parliament; an evening of music, drama, and dance featuring national and international artists; and presentations on topics ranging from the journey of the soul to the role of women in interfaith work.

The modern Parliament of World Religions began in 1893 in Chicago on the centenary of the original event. It is now held every five years. In 1999 it took place in Cape Town, South Africa, and in 2004 in Barcelona, Spain.

Information about the parliament is available at Melbourne 2009 | Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
 
That is a great event. I think we should organize more of these events
 
I've been reading a day-by-day summary of one of my teacher's experiences at the Parliament. Quite interesting and seems like it'd be a lot to absorb in a week. The minority religions are apparently well represented but largely were not invited to the big panels on such things as the global economy, environment, and social justice. Disappointing in a way, but then again, it is a huge event and it is difficult to accommodate the many, many small minority religions of the world.
 
A Baha'i presentation at World Parliament of Religions

MELBOURNE, Australia, 11 December (BWNS) – How can interfaith dialogue and religious freedom flourish when one religion declares that another is not a religion? Are tolerance and cooperation only possible among people who share the same doctrinal view of the world?

These questions were posed by a representative of the Australian Baha'i community at one of the sessions at the Parliament of the World's Religions, which has come to an end after a week of speeches, panel discussions, devotional programs, and artistic presentations.

Dr. Natalie Mobini made her remarks during a 30-minute presentation on the fifth day of the parliament, within a session on religious conflict and persecution that focused on Myanmar, Thailand, and Iran.

Reflecting on the origins of the interfaith movement – in particular the first Parliament of Religions in 1893 – Dr. Mobini related how its principal organizer believed that it had "emancipated the world from bigotry."

"The interfaith movement has continued to be inspired by the vision of a world in which the followers of different faiths are able not merely to engage with one another in a spirit of tolerance and respect but also to collaborate in contributing to the advancement of society," she said

"At the same time, the havoc that religious intolerance is continuing to wreak in our world now poses a more serious threat to humanity's progress and well-being than at any previous time in history."

Dr. Mobini explored how the interfaith movement might encourage mutual respect and cooperation among the followers of all religions and beliefs. She asked how dialogue can occur when one religion attempts to delegitimize another because of underlying theological differences.

In the case of Iran, the results of such an attitude have included the imprisonment of the Baha'i community's leaders, the desecration of its cemeteries, and the destruction of its holy places.

Referring to the Islamic government of Iran denying that the Baha'i Faith is a religion, Dr. Mobini asked, "Is this not the same as the past, when Christianity claimed that Islam is not a true religion?"

"And when the machinery of the state is used for the purpose of eliminating that religion, the challenge moves into sharper focus," she said.

The lives lost during the crusades highlighted the prejudice that colored the attitudes of Christians towards Muslims in past centuries because Christianity did not recognize Islam as a "divine" religion, she noted.

"Christians today have, however, been able to transcend that intolerance without compromising their own theological beliefs and engage in interreligious dialogue with Muslims with an open-minded spirit. The world needs to learn from this."

Dr. Mobini cited examples of Islamic and other religious leaders who have held respectful dialogue and collaborated with others in spite of theological differences.

"Should not everyone seek to find within the particular framework of his or her beliefs how to set aside exclusionist claims in order to collaborate with followers of religions whose beliefs are different?" she asked.

In the case of Iran, the Baha'i Faith does not need to be recognized as "divine" in origin, said Dr. Mobini, "but simply asks that the fact of its existence be accepted and the rights of its followers upheld."

Responding to a question from the audience about what action individuals can take to combat such instances of human rights abuses, she replied that the support of the interfaith movement was appreciated. She said that the transformation of attitudes begins at the grass roots and urged individuals to take the spirit of the parliament back to their communities.

More than 5,000 people from some 80 countries attended the parliament, which ran from 3 to 9 December. Some 70 members of the Baha'i community played an active role in the proceedings, including participating in panel discussions with members of other religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam as well as indigenous faiths and traditions.

"It is evident that growing numbers of people are coming to realize that the truth underlying all religions is in its essence one," Dr. Mobini said.

"This is the challenge of all of us here and to all who desire to overcome religious intolerance and hatred: how to live up to a 'golden rule' that is at the heart of each of the world's religions; urging us to treat the followers of other faiths as we ourselves would wish to be treated."


To view the photos with the article, go to:
Appeal for tolerance at Parliament of the World's Religions

For the Baha’i World News Service home page, go to:
http://news.bahai.org
 
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