Australia to Host the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions

[Guest guest]

But will Amma be there??

 

(from Hindu Press International listserv)

 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, May 30, 2007: Thousands of

representatives of the world's religions will convene

in Australia for the 2009 Parliament of the World's

Religions, the world's largest inter-religious

gathering. An estimated 8,000-12,000 people will meet

in Melbourne, Australia, December 3-9, 2009, to

dialogue, build interfaith relationships, and discuss

critical issues facing the global community. Adherents

of a wide range of religious traditions will be

present including: Christian, Jewish, Muslim,

Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Baha'i Jain, and Zoroastrian.

 

" The Parliament event is a place where people come

together to encounter 'the other,' " organizers state

in the Council for a Parliament of the World's

Religions (CPWR) website. " This encounter can lead to

a deepening of one's own sense of religious and

spiritual identity and an appreciation for the

challenges or difference within one's own tradition,

as well as between and among traditions. "

 

The 2009 Parliament will feature 500 events, such as

dialogues, workshops, performances and plenaries on

religious identity. Emerging topics for the gathering

include social cohesion, poverty, the environment,

indigenous peoples, and terrorism. Other issues

attendees will address are indigenous reconciliation,

environmental degradation and care, gender issues

including sex trafficking, education and the challenge

of social disengagement, forced migration, global

terrorism, and the role of religion in modern

societies.

 

Pre-parliament events in 40 cities are slated to take

place around the world to highlight the upcoming event

in Australia. Melbourne was selected as the host city

because of its multi-religious, multi-lingual, and

multicultural environment, according to organizers.

The city is praised for demonstrating collaboration

among its religious communities through

inter-religious councils, school programs, and

solidarity in times of stress and crisis. Melbourne

has also formed a council that works to ensure ongoing

collaboration between religious leaders and police.

Previous gatherings were held in Chicago (1993), Cape

Town (1999) and Barcelona (2004). Plans are currently

underway for a 2007 Universal Forum of Cultures in

Monterrey, Mexico. The forum will include

Parliament-style events and dialogues addressing

issues such as religious and spiritual diversity,

bioethics, violence, the plight of the marginalized

and the role of religion and spirituality in society.

 

 

 

______________________________\

____

Be a PS3 game guru.

Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Games.

http://videogames./platform?platform=120121