Politics & Religion
That’s right, the Parliament of the World’s Religions…transcends.
Today is day five of the seven-day Parliament of the World’s Religions, an event held every five years in a major international city. The current parliament is being held in Melbourne, Australia. It has brought together around 10,000 religious adherants and leaders from more than 80 countries to discuss religion, religious understanding, diversity, and more.
How did all this start?
The first Parliament of the World’s Religions was held in conjunction with the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. This parliament was the first of its kind to bring together leaders and followers from the world’s religions to talk peace. At that meeting, the Baha’i faith was mentioned for the first time in the United States – and Americans got a crash course in Hinduism from Swami Vivekananda.
Learn more about the first parliament and its speakers online.
What are they talking about?
At each parliament, members of various religions are called to understand and respect one another’s differences. The event also challenges them to work through conflicts, extremism, and diversity issues and fosters peace, understanding, and dialogue — and otherwise “transcending” the muck, if you will.
In particular, they consider everything from global poverty and global warming to artistic expression and education of the young. This year’s topics include:
• Healing the Earth with Care and Concern
• Reconciling with the Indigenous Peoples
• Overcoming Poverty in a Patriarchal World
• Creating Social Cohesion in Village and City
• Sharing Wisdom in Search for Inner Peace
• Securing Food and Water for All People
• Building Peace in Pursuit of Justice
There’s quite a diversity of responses at these forums. You’d kind of expect it from Australia, which is home to all five major world religions along with smaller faith movements like Baha’i and Sikhism and even Aboriginal spiritualities.
Want more?
View photos, videos, and news bits from the event.
Check out today’s list of events.
View tweets from the parliament.
Created by Religion Transcends, 2009
Can we be a pluralistic society when it comes to…the holiday stamp?
That’s what Tracy Simmons of USA Today wants to know.
Simmons recently published an article about the typical holiday stamp – the secular kind that include things like Santa, snowmen, etc.
Of course, Simmons notes that the U.S. Postal Service offers a Christmas stamp along with Hanukkah and Kwanzaa stamps. The government has also developed an Eid stamp (to celebrate Islam’s Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays).
The Eid stamp controversy
Apparently a forward has been making its way around the Internet recently, claiming that the Eid stamp was developed after 9/11 and therefore celebrates Muslim terrorist attacks. The e-mail claims that the stamp is a threat to Americans.
The original e-mail can be traced to Mayor Johnny Piper of Clarksville, TN. What the mayor didn’t realize is that the stamp was actually developed by the Bush administration ten days prior to 9/11/01. Its intentions were the same as the Christmas and Hanukkah stamps — to give Americans a way to celebrate their religions, not to promote terrorism.
What about Buddha?
Simmons asks, should the government also develop a Buddhist stamp and a Hindu stamp? It probably comes down to supply and demand. If there is a demand for the stamps, the government will be more likely to develop those stamps that will sell. But in principle, a government that produces stamps for one religion ought to produce stamps for all religions – or leave religion out of postage altogether. What do you think?
Created by ReligionTranscends.com, 2009
See, religions CAN come together for good.
This week is Interfaith Service Week, part of US President Obama’s United We Serve Initiative. The service week is among 3,000 projects coming out of the initiative, which ask people of different religions to work together.
This week, groups from various religions are doing service work in their communities – together. Here is a great opportunity to show the world that caring for one another is something all religions stand for.
Do your part.
Visit www.serve.gov to register a project or find an opportunity to serve. Available opportunities include everything from collecting canned goods or gardening to tutoring and graphic design.
Are you participating in Interfaith Service Week? Why do you think interfaith projects are good/bad? Post your comments and experiences in the comments section below.
Created by ReligionTranscends.com, 2009