2009 Ambassador P P T

‘There will be no world peace until there is peace among the religions.’Hans Küng

Why hold a Parliament of the World’s Religions?

To realise that we are all interconnected and that religion and spirituality can be a positive force for change

So we can respectfully share our religious, spiritual and faith based knowledge and ideas with others

So we can engage in discussion, consultation and active listening with those of varying religious and spiritual backgrounds

So we can act with new knowledge, awareness and enthusiasm to ‘make a world of difference’

1893 Parliament of the World’s Religions

Held in Chicago, September 1893

Birth of international interreligious dialogue

“Star” speaker was Swami Vivekananda


Held in Chicago, September 1893

Birth of international interreligious dialogue

“Star” speaker was Swami Vivekananda


Initiated by the Vivekananda Centre, Chicago

Intended as a one-off centennial event

Exceeded all expectations


Cape Town, South Africa

Theme: The role of the interreligious movement in defeating apartheid and promoting reconciliation

7,000 participants


Barcelona, Spain

Theme: Pathways to Peace

9,000 participants from 75 countries

450 program events over 7 days


Melbourne chosen through formal bid process

Location: New Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

8,000 – 12,000 people

ORGANISING PRINCIPLES OF THE PARLIAMENT

Promotes interreligious harmony, rather than unity

Based on convergence of purpose, rather than consensus of belief and practice

Operates through facilitation (rather than formal structure)

Seeks to build trust as much as agreement

Major topics

The 2009 Parliament in Melbourne will address a number of crucial topics from religious and spiritual perspectives.

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 the Search for Inner Peace Securing Food and Water for All People Building Peace in the Pursuit of Justice

Program Overview

Over seven days, participants will choose from over 450 activities, including

daily morning observances of many traditions, intrareligious and interreligious

programs, models of engagement, symposia, performances, open space

dialogue and exhibits.

Day at a glanceTIME SESSION FORMAT

8:00 – 9:00 MORNING OBSERVANCES Meditations, prayers, reflections9:00 – 9:30 BREAK

9:30 – 11:00 SESSION A“Religious and Spiritual Communities Share Their Stories”

INTRARELIGIOUSPrimarily single-tradition panel presentations

11:00–11:30 BREAK11:30 - 1:00 SESSION B

“Religious and Spiritual Communities Dialogue with Each Other”

INTERRELIGIOUSPrimarily multiple-tradition panel presentations and facilitated dialogues

1:00 – 2:30 LUNCH2:30 – 4:00 SESSION C

“Religious and Spiritual Communities Work Together”

ENGAGEMENTPrimarily facilitated dialogues, workshops and multi-religious panels

4:00 – 4:30 BREAK4:30 – 6:00 OPEN SPACE / GATHERINGS ENCOUNTER

Open space, dialogues6:00 – 7:30 BREAK7:30 – 9:00 PLENARY CELEBRATION

Arts & evocative presentations

Observances

Each morning will begin with observances from diverse religious and spiritual traditions.

Intra-Religious: Hearing each otherSpeakers from a single religious tradition

express their identities, discuss their challenges and showcase their messages.

Some include: Australian Aboriginal spirituality; New religious movements –

Perspectives on spiritual presence; Christian churches of Australia; Orthodoxy in Australia; Multiple voices of Islam; Hinduism and political leadership; Confucian humanism, Indigenous traditions and sacred sites; Christianity and ecology; Asian religions and ecology on the ground; Confronting religious extremism; Pilgrimages and religious tourism.

Inter-Religious

Speakers from two or more religious traditions engage with each other seeking greater understanding.

Some include:

Australian interfaith initiatives; Role of minority religions; Social cohesion in Australia; Divine feminine; Interfaith dialogue and peacemaking; Jewish interreligious work; Gender and peacebuilding; Religious women and development; Healing the earth; Science and religion; Access to food and water; Religious ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility; Interfaith peacebuilding; Right relationships; Perspectives on the family; Cultivating insight; Sustainable living; Interfaith marriages; End of life concerns.

Engagement

People from different religious traditions focus on how to work together to address leading topics practices for the earth.

Some include:Inter-faith education; Conflict resolution; Inter-Faith action for

peace in Africa; Perspectives on economic justice; Global sustainability; Millennium Development Goals; Human rights; Earth Charter as a global ethics; Religion and sport; Religion in cyberspace; Religion, HIV/AIDS and healthcare; Food and water, justice for all.

Open Space

Informal discussions Regional gatherings.Some include:

Receptions for international groups; Networking sessions; Special interest meetings. Interfaith groups such as: Religions for Peace, United Religions Initiative

Activities

Pre-Parliament Events are being held in over 60 cities internationally.

During the Parliament there will be activities specifically for the youth and

indigenous peoples, performances, exhibitions as well as off-site events in

the local and regional area.

Plenary Sessions

Participation

Register to attend

Bring a group of students

Volunteer before and during the 2009 Parliament

Organise or sponsor a delegation. Receive 10%

discount for a group of 10 or more.

Attend a Pre-Parliament event in your area

Sponsor an individual or group who otherwise would

not be able to attend.

Legacy

Personal transformation

Commitments to sustainable long term

outcomes

Forward progression of the local

interreligious movement

Global interreligious movement

Engagement with the critical issues