International Interfaith Organisations Network

A World of Difference 

‘A Celebration of Difference’ was how one of the organisers described the Fifth Parliament of the World Religions held in the brand new Convention Hall in Melbourne, Australia from 3^rd to 9^th December 2009. A Sufi Whirling Payer Ceremony, Deep Chanting by Tibetan monks, Plainsong and Gospel Music, Traditional Song and Dance by Australia’s First People and much more were, for example, all part of a Concert of Sacred Music. 

Celebrating the rich diversity of religious beliefs and practices is more important than it may sound. Still today, as in past centuries, ethnic and religious differences are a cause of mistrust, hostility and even massacre. Several programmes were devoted to ‘Respecting the Other.’ Not all difference, however, is to be respected. As Katherine Marshall of World Faiths Development Dialogue, insisted, religions need to challenge the economic injustices, which allow the few to live in plenty and millions to subsist in abject poverty.

 There was little opportunity to bring the themes together. Moreover, with the emphasis on respecting difference, the hope of the pioneers
of the interfaith movement that religions can provide a spiritual basis for humanity to live together in a global society was scarcely mentioned, although HH the Dalai Lama insisted that the root cause of the world’s problems was the failure to recognise that this is  a moral universe.

 With more than six hundred programmes – lectures, seminars, religious observances, concerts, films and much more – there was certainly plenty of variety. No one could do more than sample the rich banquet. Like the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, where there are perhaps twelve matches on court at the same time, one can only watch one of them. As a result each participant had a different ‘Parliament experience.’

 The overall theme of ‘Make a World of Difference: Hearing Each Other;
Healing the Earth’ was broken down into several major subthemes:

Healing the Earth with Care and Concern,
Indigenous People,
Overcoming Poverty in an Unequal World,
Securing Food and Water for All People,
Building Peace in Pursuit of Justice,
Creating Social Cohesion in Village and City,
Sharing Wisdom in the Search for Inner Peace.

In addition a number of sub-themes emerged from the programme
suggestions submitted:
Local to Global Interreligious Movements,
Partner Cities Network,
Islam in a Global Context,
Women in Leadership,
Youth,
Family,
Media and Religion,
Interreligious Education,

The Parliament programme, through the extensive use of e-mails, was carefully arranged. All major religious traditions were well
represented and compared to earlier Parliaments ‘fringe’ groups were
not conspicuous.

 Visitors from around the world were given a warm welcome by the people of Melbourne, which is a vibrant multi-cultural and multi-religious
society. The state of Victoria is home to people from more than 200
countries of origin, speaking more than 230 languages and dialects,
following more than 110 faith traditions. Many people from Melbourne
acted as volunteers and offered hospitality in their homes. The
Parliament received support from the government of Australia and the
Sate of Victoria as well as from the City of Melbourne. It was perhaps
a pity that there was no big public event in the city to which anyone
could come. Even for day-participants registration was expensive.
 

The Melbourne Parliament was the fifth Parliament of World Religions. The first was held in Chicago in 1893 and is often seen as the beginning of the modern interfaith movement. The International Association of Religious Freedom and the World Congress of Faiths, despite widespread opposition, continued this initiative, but their work was often eclipsed by the dominance of Communism, Fascism and Secularism, let alone two World Wars. Moreover the prevalent theological fashion in the Churches was to dismiss the world religions as expressions of human arrogance.

 The situation began to change in the nineteen sixties following the historic document Nostra Aetate – agreed by the Second Vatican Council – which recognising glimmers of divine truth in other religions, stressed the importance of dialogue with people of other faiths. A similar approach was soon adopted by the World Council of Churches, despite angry opposition from some member churches. Moreover, the growing recognition by the churches that centuries of anti-Jewish teaching had contributed to the great suffering of the Jewish people – not least in the Holocaust – had led to a new humility.

 Christians began to take the initiative in promoting dialogue and found a ready response from some members of other religions. It was, however, the centenary of the 1893 World Parliament of Religions  – marked by gatherings across the world and especially in Chicago – that first caught the attention of a wider public. At the 1993 Parliament, attention was focussed on defining a Global Ethic, which highlighted the agreement of religions on a code of morality. Well over 20,000 people attended the open-air finale at which the key speaker was the Dalai Lama. The 1999 Parliament, at which Nelson Mandela was a speaker, gained its significance from its venue – Cape Town – in the newly multi racial and multi religious South Africa. The Parliament began with a public rally to express solidarity with the victims of Aids.

 It was not, however, until the first years of this century, that politicians, in the aftermath of 9/11, began to recognise the vital importance of interfaith co-operation. At the 2004 Parliament, which met in Barcelona – where Europe looks across the Mediterranean to North Africa – speakers of all traditions insisted the religion should never be used to sanction acts of terrorism. Melbourne, at a time when concern for the Environment is high on the world’s agenda was an appropriate choice for 2009 meeting, especially as the Aboriginals, Australia’s first people, have much to teach us on this subject.

 The many programmes at the Melbourne Parliament ranged over issues of vital concern to all people – the search for peace, the relief of poverty, an end to the abuse and discrimination from which so many people suffer and above all concern for the future of planet Earth. What is need now is for people of faith to engage in serious dialogue with politicians, scientists, business leaders and many others. Religions will not solve the problems but equally they cannot be solved if the religions are ignored.

 The Parliament of Religions is a Parliament in the original sense of a place where people meet to talk together. It is not a law-making or executive body. No grand resolutions were passed. The Parliament will make ‘a world of difference’ by the difference it has made to those who shared the experience. They will return home with new enthusiasm and energy for their work for interfaith fellowship, peace, social service, help for the poor and action to reduce climate change. There is an old prayer, ‘Change the world and begin with me.’ It is people who are different who make a world of difference.
 
Members of the World Congress of Faiths played an active role at the Parliament, although some who had hoped to be there, sadly had to cancel because of illness. Members of the World Congress of Faiths arranged a beautiful interfaith morning observance on ‘Respect for the Earth,’ Mary Braybrooke, a Vice-President of WCF and a social worker, led a session on ‘Older People: Revered or Redundant,’ which was a very personal and inter-active sharing. She also was a member of the panel at a session on  the religious situation in Europe.  Sister Maureen Goodman and Marcus Braybrooke arranged a half day retreat on ‘The Inner Voice of Peace: Interfaith, a Life Changing Experience,’ at which Dadi Janki, a Patron of WCF, gave a short talk on the Importance of Silence. Vinod Kapashi took part in a programme on ‘The Jain perspective on Nonviolence and Self-Control: a Model for Education.’ Marcus Braybrooke also took part in a panel on ‘Respect for the Other,’  moderated one session and preached at a local church. There were also opportunities for several members of WCF from different parts of the world to renew their friendships.

Together with the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University and the
International Interfaith Centre, WCF had a stand in the exhibition area.    

Rev Dr Marcus Braybrooke,

President of the World Congress of Faiths.

19.12.09

This entry was posted on December 20, 2009 at 11:08 am and is filed under Interfaith Events, News from our member organisations, World Religions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.