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Parliament of the World's Religions holds special place in hearts of American Baha'is
In 1893, in the city of Chicago, a "World's Parliament of Religions" was held as an auxiliary event in conjunction with the World's Columbian Exhibition (World's Fair). This event marked the first official gathering of representatives from eastern and western religions and is considered the birthplace of formal interreligious dialogue.
It was at one of the sessions of that first Parliament that Reverend George A. Ford, a Syrian missionary, read a paper written by Rev. Henry H. Jessup, Director of Presbyterian Missionary Operations in North Syria, describing "a famous Persian Sage," Baha'u'llah, who had recently died in Akka, Palestine. This presentation was the first time the Baha'i Faith was mentioned in a public talk in North America. For this reason, the Parliament of the World's Religions has a special place in the hearts of American Baha'is.
From this humble beginning eventually grew the American Baha'i community. Fourteen years later, in 1907, there were more than 1,000 members of the Baha'i Faith in North America. They organized and purchased property in Wilmette, Ill., just north of Chicago, and made plans to build what is now the magnificent Baha'i House of Worship for the North American Continent. (Read more on how the Baha'i Temple came to be in Wilmette.)
In 1993, on the 100th anniversary of the first Parliament, some 8,000 people from all religions came together in Chicago to commemorate the anniversary and to establish the Council for the Parliament of the World's Religions. Since then, gatherings were held in South Africa in 1999 and in Barcelona, Spain in 2004. Baha'is have been involved in all four modern Parliaments, as organizers, participants, and presenters. (Read the Baha'i World News Service story on Baha'i participation in the 2004 Parliament.)
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. Lepard is the author of a number of books including Hope for a Global Ethic: Shared Principles in Religious Scriptures and In the Glory of the Father: The Baha'i Faith and Christianity by Baha'i Publishing.
Lepard is planning to present "A Baha'i Perspective on the Right to Development" at the Parliament and has also been invited to offer a Baha'i perspective in a panel on the adoption of a "Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the World's Religions."
Lepard is excited about participating in the Parliament because "it exemplifies one of the main themes of Baha'u'llah's teachings - bringing about greater unity and understanding among people of diverse faiths and beliefs." He goes on to explain, "I have sought in my personal and professional life to promote this teaching, which is sorely needed in a world riven by religiously-based conflict."
Participating at the Parliament is also an opportunity for him, as a specialist in law, to interact and collaborate with participants from other fields, including religion, philosophy, and ethics. "My academic work as a law professor and legal scholar has attempted to integrate law with these other disciplines, and to draw insights from ethical principles shared by the world's great religious traditions."
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World Parliament of Religions
The 1893 World Parliament of Religions is also meaningful to Christian Scientists, as it was a unique opportunity to participate in an interfaith forum and an address by the founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, was delivered. Eddy was a contemporary of Baha'u'llah. Born in Bow, New Hampshire in 1821, she passed away in 1910 after founding The Christian Science Monitor, among many accomplishments. My interactions with Baha'is in my area has been very fruitful. When we discuss religion, it is with mutual respect and appreciation for each other's faiths - rooted and grounded in a deep spirituality that is both personally satisfying and outwardly practical. I have read several works about the Baha'i faith and I recommend the investigation of Christian Science to Baha'is. Eddy's book Science and Health with Key to Scriptures, together with the Bible, are the church's pastor and the subjects of daily study and devotion. Visit www.spirituality.com for more information. In love and faith.
The different religions
The different religions were the production of the necessities of different time and place. In the long course of time, many practices get misinterpreted and so get polluted
The 1893 World Parliament of Religions
The 1893 World Parliament of Religions is no less important for The Hindus of the World. This was the occasion when our Revered Swami Vivekanand Addressed the Congress and made them spellbound with the address of brothers and sisters to all the participants. With these words he explored the hidden mystique reality of Hinduism that the world is one family. Mata cha Parvatidevi, pitadevo Maheshwara Bandhava manavasarve, vasudhaiva kutumbakam Not only that The Hindus system of worshiping the Sun, the Moon, the Earth, the Trees and the Rivers has a lesson for the world that we have to respect the Nature. Our existence is a co-existence with nature; we are not singularly superior. Swami Vivekananda has clearly defined Religion as the highway where all kinds of vehicles ply. The different religions were the production of the necessities of different time and place. In the long course of time, many practices get misinterpreted and so get polluted.Whenever the wrong practices increase and right practices decrease the lord takes incarnation to purify them and put them right in possibly some different ways than before and that is named as different religion.
Bandhava Maheshwara
Bandhava Maheshwara manavasarve, kutumbakam Vasudhaiva not only the system of the Hindus to worship the sun, moon, earth, trees and rivers have a lesson to the world that we have to respect nature. Our existence is a coexistence with nature, we are uniquely superior. Swami Vivekananda has clearly defined religion as the highway where all vehicles layers. Different religions in the production of the needs of different time and place. In the long course of time, many practices are interpreted and so polluted.Whenever the increase in bad practices and law practices decrease the Lord takes incarnation to purify and possibly put them in full
I really appreciate the idea
I really appreciate the idea of selection of different themes for prayer such as education, family, justice,confidence and courage. But I couldn’t quite understand keeping difficulties as a theme of prayer. Difficulties are illusions. They are like the exercises of the body builders. They clean our souls; they rinse our sins and purify us. Family, education, courage, confidence & justice support us to withstand it, fight it and defeat it. God bless!
Bahai Vision
It is good to know that Bahai is getting popular around North America and all over the world.
The different religions were
The different religions were the production of the necessities of different time and place. In the long course of time, many practices get misinterpreted and so get polluted.Whenever the wrong practices increase and right practices decrease the lord takes incarnation to purify them and put them right in possibly some different ways than before and that is named as different religion.
I love bahai religion
I love bahai religion
If I am not here I don't
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I was excited to learn today
I was excited to learn today about the World Parliament of Religions held in Australia on 3 December! 2009 Parliament of World Religions will be held on December 3 through December 9 in Melbourne, Australia. Based on attendance at previous events, the Melbourne Parliament is expected to gather at 8,000 to 12,000 people to address key issues including: Healing of the Earth with the care and concern, protection of food and water for all people, and Peacebuilding in search of justice. More than a century ago, Bahá'u'lláh said the Baha'is to "the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendship and companionship." And Baha'is have been active in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding since the mid 1800's. A number of American Baha'is plan to participate in the Parliament of 2009, including Brian Lepard - an international organization specializing in human rights and the Law Alumni Professor of Law at the University of Nebraska. Lepard is the author of several books, including the hope of a global ethic: Common Principles in Religious Scripture and the glory of the Father: The Baha'i Faith and Christianity Bahá'í Publishing.
A number of American Baha'is
A number of American Baha'is plan to participate in the Parliament of 2009, including Brian Lepard - an international organization specializing in human rights and the Law Alumni Professor of Law at the University of Nebraska. Lepard is the author of several books, including the hope of a global ethic: Common Principles in Religious Scripture and the glory of the Father: The Baha'i Faith and Christianity Bahá'í Publishing. Regards Scott
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