Parliament of the World's Religions 1999

PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS 1999

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Excerpts from a website which detailed the activities of this event was sponsored by Catholic Services Network. The reason we are bringing this event into our ministry realm is the fact that the Parliament of the World's Religions is a movement which is involved with the World Council of Churches and the Interfaith Center. By going through this information we discovered several new leads. The term `Interfaith' is so losely used by Pope John Paul II and other major mainstream Christian evangelists. What it really means is represented by this event. People are under the impression that it means interdenominational which is only a facet of it. We discovered that Roman Catholics are heavily involved in these types of events which have a world-wide impact on the whole spectrum of globalization including the entire `Christian' community through the Pope who wishes to unite all faiths for peace.

We discovered that the Interfaith Center of New York is sponsored by Rev. James Parks Morton, Dean Emeritus of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine; President, Interfaith Center of New York, New York, US. It brings to mind a page out of the book `666 The Final Warning' by Gary D. Blevins page 264/ 265: "One of the most shocking displays occurred in 1984. A four foot bronze statue of Jesus Christ was unveiled for a ten-day showing in the church. He was sculptured as a woman complete with rounded hips and exposed breasts. While some people became upset, the Cathedral Dean, James Parks Morton, responded that the effort was to "send a positive message to women". It had upset only the same group of people who opposed the ordination of women. [Source:Time Magazine, p.94, May 7, 1984].

We made another connection. It was to `The Social Action Program'. This program works for justice for the poor and the marginalized in the name of the Catholic Church [Editor's note: We found this in the Catholic Charities listed and what they don't reveal is that this program is also part of the Lausanne Movement - this explanation shows what all is involved in Social Action. We are dealing right now with the capital punishment issue, which is part of this program. The influx of Mexicans across the border is another one]. The director advocates in the public arena for respect for human life on issues of abortion, euthanasia, welfare reform, immigration, the death penalty and right to work. The director persuades the legislatures and public agencies to enact legislation and implement policies which respect life, value human dignity, recognize the rights of workers and foster the responsibility of society to promote the well being of families and communities.
[ http://www.catholicservices.net CatholicServices.NET - 26111 Brush Ave. - Cleveland, OH - 44132 ]

We hope you don't think we are for abortion, euthanasia, etc.. , we are not. The problem is that the people behind pluralism and interfaith who think we need to engage in it because of the mix we have all over the world, are using these important issues to draw people into the INTERFAITH movement which is blasphemy where the Bible is concerned. Born again believers cannot allow themselves to be unequally yoked to people who have different faiths. There is only ONE God and if they don't believe in HIM, who do they believe in but the one who wants the throne and that can only be Lucifer.

By some strange coincidence [?] we got a look at the Parliament of the World's Religions storage boxes which are kept at a Catholic library in Chicago named DePaul Library part of the DePaul University. There is a database of Assembly Members of the Parliament of the World's Religions from the 1993 event which was held in Chicago. Storage box 33 held names of delegates and among them were Christian, Sir John M Templeton, Buddhist, Dalai Lama, H.H.; Islam, Louis Farrakhan; Apostolic-Pentecostal, Leon D. Finney; Baptist, Dr. James Alexander Forbes; Hindu, Sohan Lal Jain Ghandi; Box 34 - Dr. Robert Muller; Catholic, Fr. Thomas Keating and many more. In the V.I.P. group 70% were from the USA and some did not show their affiilations. Baptists 3, Pentecostals 2, Catholics 9, Christian 12, Lutheran 2, Bahai'i 4, Islam 5, Hindu 12, Episcopal 2, Buddhists 8, Taoist 1, Judaism 7, Theosophy 3, Mormon 1, Methodists 2, Presbitarian 2. Every religion had its own committee.

In her article "Challenge of Pluralism" By Diana L. Eck , she describes what has happened to the American landscape from religion's point of view. She is involved in the Pluralism Project at Harvard University and she wrote of the 1993 Parliament of the Worlds Religions. She wrote: "In San Francisco, the city issued a proclamation marking the end of the annual festival honoring the deity Ganesha. The article in India Abroad on September 6, 1991 read, "Mayor Art Agnos has issued a proclamation declaring September 22 Golden Gate Ganesha Visarjana Day. It is believed to be the first time that the mayor of a city in the United States had honored the Hindu deity."..

"Americans all carry coins with the motto E Pluribus Unum -- Out of many One. But given the more complex landscape of America -- culturally and religiously -- America now has the opportunity and challenge to think anew about what that might mean. What is meant by this term pluralism? The last 10 years have seen the genesis of a few effective interfaith councils at the local and metropolitan level -- in Los Angeles and Washington, in Rochester, Wichita, Tulsa and San Antonio. Councils of churches have become councils of churches and synagogues. Then the Muslims joined, or the Buddhists and Hindus. Yet the process of developing this interfaith infrastructure is just now beginning in many cities [1993, it is seven years later, 2000]. [if you wish to read the rest of the article click on: "Challenge of Pluralism."

Back to the 1999 Parliament of the Worlds Religions that was held in Cape Town, South Africa, it was said to have been the most extraordinary interreligious gathering of our time. Thousands of people representing the diversity of the worlds religious and spiritual traditions gathered in Cape Town, South Africa in December for eight days of encounter, dialogue, critical reflection, and celebration at the threshold of a new century.

As a participant in the 1999 Parliament of the Worlds Religions, you would have met people from all over the world; countries represented include: South Africa, Canada, Mexico, US, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Bosnia, Turkey, Greece, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and Iran&and from almost every African nation

You would have engaged in interreligious dialogue, each religion illuminating a unique way of serving the world. Some of the subjects delt with:

"Jubilee: International Debt Relief"
"walk through time," the 5-billion-year history of the Earth
" take part in a gala closing ceremony featuring an address by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
" leave the 1999 Parliament with new understanding, insight, vision, and commitment.

1999 PARLIAMENT PROGRAMES

Parliament participants will choose from over 700 programs grouped under three principal headings. The following is a very small sampling of presentations scheduled thus far.

I. Religious and Spiritual Identity
The Evolution of Christianity in South Africa
Jewish Mysticism
The Role of the Guru in Indian Religions
Living and Dying in Buddhism
The Role of the Body in Prayer
Native American Culture and Spirituality
Jewish Ways to the Center
The Abrahamic Traditions: Spirit and Social Justice
Indigenous Spirituality: Without Land, How Will the Spiritual Helpers Know Me?
The Sangoma: Healing in African Tradition
Zoroastrianism: the Sacred Earth
The Religion of Nonviolence: Jainism
A Tapestry of Hinduism
Transfiguring the Body in Midrashic and Kabbalistic Commentaries to the Song of Songs.
What is Wicca?
Human Survival and the Jain Principle of Oneness
African Traditional Spirituality
Daruma: The Original Exercises of Zen Buddhism
Varieties of Religious Expression
Meditative Spirituality in Christianity
PROJECT: S.H.A.L.O.M.-Students Holding Hands Across Lines Of Multiculturalism
Jesus the Holy Fool: a Christology for the New Millennium
Women in Islam
Science and Spirituality in Hinduism
Introducing the Quakers (the Society of Friends)
The Bahai Faith: Models of Unity (note: this was listed twice)
Islam and the Challenge of Religious PluralismIntegration of Individual and Social Values in Sikhism
Torah, Talmud, and the Spiritual Life
Honoring the Great Soul: Gandhis Relevance for the New Millennium
Flesh: Thoughts on the Role of the Body in African American Religions
New Religions and Religious Movements
Dancing with the Divine
Architecture and Spirituality
Sacred Sound: Harmonic Encounters
The Wisdom of the Aramaic Jesus
Sri Ramakrishna: Embracing the Divine
Human BeingWho Are We? A Latter-day Saint (Mormon) View
Perennial Wisdom and Emanuel Swedenborg
The Interfaith Work of the Prophet Muhammad
Kalis Follies: MidLife at the Millennium
Parenting and Spirituality

II. Dialogue

Religion and Science at the Threshold of a New Century
Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Hindus in the New South Africa
Interreligious Dialogue and Contextual Theology
The Human Brain: Where Science and Religion Meet
Buddha and Christ: Historical Groundings
Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science
Challenges and Problems of Dialogue
African Participation in Dialogue?
Buddhist-Christian Theological Encounter and Global Problems
Pope John Paul on Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism
Can Another Religion Really Contribute to My Faith?
Muslim, Christian, Jewish Dialogue
African Religions and the Abrahamite Traditions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam)
When New Religions Meet the Classical Traditions
East-West Encounter in the 21st Century
Buddhist-Catholic Encounter
How the Shared Wisdom of Buddhists and Christians Can Humanise Modernity
Healing Our Hearts: Working for Interfaith Reconciliation in India
All Our Relations: Interfaith Dialogue on Human Rights
Spirituality and Psychology
Enlightenment in the New Millennium: the Path of Light and the Great Masters
Promoting Dialogue and Education in a Grass-roots Organisation
Interreligious Encounter and Dialogue in South Africa

III. The Critical Issues

The AIDS Crisis in Africa
Are We Beyond the Limits to Growth?
The Moral Imperatives of Global Capitalism
Sikh Scriptures and the Environment
Microcredit: The Role of Religious Organisations
The Cultural Unconscious and the Female Psyche: Liberation of the Female Self
The Black Experience: A Cry for World Peace
Interfaith Peacemaking: The Work of the Fellowship of Reconciliation
Moving Faith into Action: Strategies for Building a Just World
Womens Issues in New Perspective
Religion at the United Nations
Peace and Human Unity
Equity and Community Building: North and South
Religion, War, and Peace
Maintaining American Indian Culture for the Seventh Generation
Native America and Religious Freedom
Cosmology, Systems Theory, World Religions, and the Environment
Moral Development in a Pluralistic Society
The Plight of Children: Challenges and Opportunities
What Men Owe to Women: Positive Influences from the Worlds Religions
We Left Our Hearts in South Africa: Building Bridges Between the US and SA
Faith Traditions and Health Initiatives Around the World
Interfaith Peacemaking: the Work of the Fellowship of Reconciliation
The Spiritual Crisis of Globalisation
Women: from Disempowerment to Empowerment
The Truth and Reconciliation Experience in South Africa
Economic Globalisation and the Roman Catholic Social Justice Tradition
Conflict Resolution with Heart
Technology, the Information Revolution, and the Family
The Plight of the Children
Ubuntu: An African Model of Community
Youth Priorities for the New Millennium
Freedom of Religion in a Pluralistic World
The World as One Place: Globalisation and Global Ethics
A Global Reconciliation Service to End Religious Violence
An Environmental Ethic: a Quranic Perspective
Religious Attitudes Towards Organ Transplants
Towards a New Ecological Model for the World
Healing Religious Wounds
Shamanism and the Myth of White Supremacy
Human Values and Human Rights in the 21st Century
Non-Violence and Spirituality: the International Gandhi & Griffiths Society
The Economics of Care
The South African Moral Summit: An Interfaith Bridge to the Future

IV. Daily Prayer / Meditation Sessions

Meditation, Zen Style
Centering Prayer
Yoga and Contemplation
Buddhist Chanting and Meditation
Christian Meditation
Kriya Yoga
Jewish Prayer
Muslim Prayer
Hindu Prayer/Meditation
Buddhist Meditation
Raja Yoga
Tai Chi Practice
Sufi Meditation
Native American Ritual
African Spiritual Practice
Circle of Hearts
Womens Meditation Circle

1999 PARLIAMENT GIFTS OF SERVICE TO THE WORLD

The 1999 Parliament will feature several hundred projects of service to the human community and the Earth. These projectsGifts of Service to the Worldwill serve as examples of the creative, constructive, and transformative power of groups, organisations, and communities that choose to make a difference in the world. A few Examples:

" PLAY FOR PEACE, USA, GUATEMALA, MIDDLE-EAST AND SOUTH AFRICA

This Program brings children from conflicting cultures together through cooperative play to promote positive relationships among people who have a history of inter-cultural tension. Teenagers are trained (in conflict resolution, play techniques, etc.) to facilitate play groups for seven to ten-year-old children.

" CHILDRENS PEACE MUSEUM, JERUSALEM

Permanent facility located in Jerusalem. Will provide a safe, neutral place for Israeli and Palestinian pre-school and school-age children to learn how to deal with violence and conflict through engaging, interactive, non-partisan exhibits.

" PROJECT S.H.A.L.O.M. (STUDENTS HOLDING HANDS ACROSS LINES OF MULTICULTURALISM), ISRAEL AND USA

Israeli and American students -- dedicated to tackling problems of intolerance that exist between cultures, religions and races -- share concerns, problems and ideas over the internet. Together, they develop and implement solutions that make a difference.

" CLOAK THE EARTH, WORLDWIDE

People of all faiths create prayer cloths as symbols of dedication to healing the planet. Healing rituals will be held to fly the cloths, January 1, 2000.

" HUMAN BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP: THE GLOBAL COUNCIL FOR BUSINESS, ETHICS, AND SPIRITUAL VALUES, UNITED KINGDOM

HBP links together the worlds business leaders with its spiritual and civic leaders to continue an ethical renewal of corporate structures and practices, so that humanity and business can flourish together. Initiatives include: facilitating dialogue among business, civic and spiritual leaders; improving the interchange of information among businesses and other organizations; and creating and integrating standards for ethical performance.

" INTERFAITH ALLIANCE FOR THE CARE OF ABUSED CHILDREN, USA

Under the auspices of the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council (California), forty Protestant, Jewish, Mormon and Hindu congregations are paired with municipal social workers to provide basic resources for abused children.

" THE CHILDREN'S PEACE PAVILION SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM, USA

This school-based program is designed to provide meaningful activities in the classroom and after-school for children six- to eleven-years-old. The program has been developed in conjunction with teachers and principals from pa rticipating schools and provides a real-life approach to working towards peace. Currently ten pilot schools are participating in the Kansas City area. Plans to expand this to more schools are underway.

1999 PARLIAMENT: PROMINENT INVITEES

Note: there are many more invitees in each category; these are some of the most noteworthy, at least within their traditions. The total number of persons of this stature who are likely to participate is over 300.

Buddhism

" H.H. the Dalai Lama
" Maha Ghosananda, Supreme Patriarch, Cambodian Buddhism
" Master Hsing Yun, Head, Fo Guang Shan Buddhism, Taiwan
" Zen Master Seung Sahn, Korea
" Sulak Sivaraksa, famous Buddhist activist, Thailand
" Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh, Bangkok, Thailand
" Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, Sri Lanka

Christianity

" Prof. Hans Küng, Theologian, University of Tübingen, Germany
" Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia, Chiapas, Mexico
" Very Rev. James Parks Morton, Dean Emeritus of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine; President, Interfaith Center of New York, New York, US
" Rosemary Radford Reuther, Theologian, US
" Sr. Joan Chittester, US
" Prof. Chung Hyung Kyung, Korea
" Rev. Charity Majiza, General Secretary, South African Council of Churches
" Rev. Marcus Braybrooke, Anglican, Chair, International Interfaith Centre, Oxford, UK
" Huston Smith, Scholar-Writer, US
" Pastor Ray McCauley, Rhema Church, South Africa
" Rev. James Forbes, Riverside Baptist, New York, US (probable)
" Archbishop Lawrence Henry, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town
" Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, Church of the Province of Southern Africa (Anglican)
" Archbishop Buti Thlagale, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bloemfontein
" Bishop Mvume Dandala, Presiding Bishop, Methodist Church of South Africa

Judaism

" Sir Sigmund Sternberg, International Conference of Christians and Jews, London, UK
" Rabbi Cyril Harris, Chief Rabbi, South Africa
" Moshe Idel, Scholar, Jerusalem, Israel
" Rabbi Samuel Karff, US Jewish leader, Houston, Texas, US
" Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman, Rabbis for Peace, Jerusalem, Israel
" Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkrantz, Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding, Connecticut, US
" Rabbi David Rosen, Jerusalem

Hinduism

" H.H. Swami Chidananda Saraswati, Rishikesh, India
" Dr. Karan Singh, former ambassador of India to US, India
" Justice Ashwin Trikamjee, Hindu Maha Sabha, South Africa
" H.H. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, publisher, Hinduism Today, Hawaii, US
" Professor K.L. Rao, Editor, Encyclopedia of Hinduism, South Carolina, US
" Swami Saradananda, Ramakrishna Centre, Durban
" Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, Kashi Ashram, Sebastian, Florida

Islam

" Mawlana Taqi Usmani, High Court Justice, Pakistan
" Anis Ahmad, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
" H.E. Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef, Saudi Arabia, President, Muslim World Congress
" Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Dultz, head, German Muslim League, Germany
" Ayatollah Mizbah Yazdi, Iran
" Dr. Salman Nadvi, University of Durban-Westville, Durban, South Africa
" Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, South Africa
" Dr. Iqbal Ansari, Minorities Council of India, India
" Dr. Dalil Boubakeur, Head, Paris Mosque, France
" Sheikh Ibrahim Gabriels, Muslim Judicial Council, Cape Town, SA
" Imam Rashied Omar, South Africa
" Dr. Mustafa Ceric, head Imam, Bosnia
" Shaykh Naziwal Haqqan, US
" Imam Wallace Deen Mohammed, US Jainism
" Nemu Chandaria, Institute of Jainology, London, UK
" H.E. Dr. L.M. Singhvi, former High Commissioner for India, India
" P.N. Bawa Jain, Interfaith Center of New York

Taoism

" Chungliang Al Huang, US

African Religion

" Dr. Drake Koka, Johannesburg, SA
" Credo Mutwa, Magaliesberg, SA
" Prof. Joe Tefo, Pietersburg, SA
" Thabo Seekane, Johannesburg, SA

African Spiritual Churches

" Bishop Lekganyane, Pietersburg, SA
" Rev. Modisane, Johannesburg, SA

Scholars, Activists

" Dr. Steven Rockefeller, Earth Charter
" Dr. Gerald O. Barney, Millennium Institute
" Dr. Rolf Carriere, World Bank

[Source: http://www.cpwr.org - Bill Laufer, Catholic Services Network in support of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions. [ http://www.catholicservices.net CatholicServices.NET - 26111 Brush Ave. - Cleveland, OH - 44132 ]

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