Please see the Cover and Contents in the last pages of this e-Book Online Study Materials on INTERFAITH, RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY 51 INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW OF INTERFAITH RELATIONS AND ORGANISATIONS INTER-RELIGIOUS ORGANISATION An inter-religious organisation or interfaith organisation is an organisation that encourages dialogue and cooperation between the world’s different religions. In 1893, the Parliament of the Worlds Religions held, in conjunction with the World Columbian Exposition, a conference in Chicago that is believed to be the first interfaith gathering of significance. In the century since, many organisations have been founded. INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS • American Jewish Committee (AJC) Dept of Inter-religious Affairs, established 1906, website • Association of Interfaith Ministers (AIM), established 1986 • Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University website • Boston Dialogue Foundation, established 2000, website • Center for World Thanksgiving, established 1964 • Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, established 1988, website • Dovetail Institute for Interfaith Family Resources (DI-IFR), website • Ecumene: A Meeting Place for the World’s Religions and Ideologies, website • Elijah Interfaith Institute, established 1996, website • Greater Boston Interfaith Organisation (GBIO), established 1996, website 2370 • Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), established 1914 • Focolare Movement • Humanity’s Team, established 2003, website Concentrating on belonging to a particular race, religion or nation, will peace and happiness prevail on this earth. The strength of inter-religious solidarity in action against apartheid, rather than mere harmony or co-existence, was crucial in bringing that evil system to an end. When every soul will rise above petty divisions in true spiritual understanding, world misery will be consumed in the fire of the realisation of the universality of God and the fellowship of humanity” We need to pursue peace even when we are grossly provoked; in the end people die, not Catholics or Hindus or Muslims. Men and women of faith are a strong influence on group and individual conduct. As teachers and guides, you can be powerful agents for change. You can inspire people to new levels of commitment and public service. You can help bridge the chasms of ignorance, fear and misunderstanding. You can set an example of interfaith dialogue and co-operation. In all work in the interfaith movement we must never forget the importance of our own individual inner aspirations. We have to move through prayer, through meditation, through study, through devoted work, towards the true centres of our being. The essential aspiration of religions is for reconciliation, human fellowship and peace. By awakening the spiritual consciousness of humanity, we can establish moral order in human society. Spiritual traditions of the world should, therefore, stand together and work for the greater glory of God and the greater happiness of humankind. Would you revise your two sentences after reading these quotes? If so, what would they read like now? PROMOTING GOOD INTERFAITH RELATIONS INTERFAITH NETWORK FOR THE UK The Interfaith Network for the UK was founded in 1987 to promote good relations between people of different faiths in this country. Its member organisations include representative bodies from the Baha’i; Buddhist; Christian; Hindu; Jain; Jewish; Muslim; Sikh; and Zoroastrian Introductory Overview of Interfaith Relations and Organisations 2371 communities; national and local interfaith bodies; and academic institutions and educational bodies concerned with interfaith issues. UNDERSTANDING WITH INTEGRITY The Network works with its member bodies to help make the UK a place marked by mutual understanding and respect between religions where all can practise their faith with integrity. The Network’s way of working is firmly based on the principle that dialogue and cooperation can only prosper if they are rooted in respectful relationships which do not blur or undermine the distinctiveness of different religious traditions. On this site you will find information about our work and be able to download many of our publications. UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE The United Religions Initiative (URI), founded by Bishop William E. Swing (The Seventh Bishop of the Diocese of California of the Episcopal Church), was inspired to bring people of diverse faith into cooperation for peace by the example of the work of nations of the world through United Nations working to bring peace. The movement to found it began in 1996, culminating in the signing of the United Religions Initiative Charter in 2000. “The purpose of the URI is to promote enduring daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence, and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.” The URI emphasises a decentralised, grass roots structure that includes not only representation of the world’s major religious organisations, but also other voices not often heard. It complements the work of and collaborates with other local and international interfaith organisations, such as the Council for a Parliament of the Worlds Religions. ORGANISATIONAL DESIGN The URI is composed of over 300 Cooperation Circles (CCs)–groups of 7 or more individuals dedicated to the URI Preamble, Purpose, and Principles (collectively, the Charter). For administrative purposes, these CCs are divided into 8 regions: • Africa • Asia 2372 • Europe • Latin America and the Caribbean • Middle East and North Africa • Multi-regional • North America • Pacific Each region elects 3 Trustees to sit on the Global Council (GC), which functions as the Board of Directors for the United Religions Initiative, Inc. (a California 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation). The GC is elected every 3 years; the most recent elections were held in 2005. In addition as serving as the fiscal agents for the global URI, the GC sets policy formal policy and approves new member CCs. The GC is defined by the URI Charter and Bylaws as primarily an advisor to the local CCs, rather than a command-and-control body. World Alliance of Interfaith Clergy—A professional organisation for seminary trained persons who have studied world religions. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)—An organisation that is rooted in Christian experience and involves people of many traditions. Some say AA is a religious group and others say it is secular. A link to the Christian perspective. Mall Area Religious Council (MARC)—This Minnesota USA based organisation that was seed bed for the Interfaith Calendar website, now a separate venture. A joint venture by congregations of many world religions with the vision of spiritual presence at Mall of America in Bloomington, MARC continues to explore ways of opening communication between adherents of world religions. Pluralism Project Based at Harvard University, the site provides significant information on pluralism in America as it is expressed in the religious community. The Interfaith Calendar is noted in the site as an example of effective calendars. United Religions Initiative An organisation promoting daily interfaith cooperation National Council for Community and Justice An organisation that applies religious resources to combat bias, bigotry and racism in America. Encourages respect between races, religions and cultures. STUDY RESOURCES Primary Sacred Dates for World Religions New Years Dates for World Religions Introductory Overview of Interfaith Relations and Organisations 2373 Religion Facts—A comprehensive religions information resource site. Comparative-Religion.com—Presented as the largest site for religious resources in the UK, this site is a gathering of information on key books and writing of the world’s religions. Religious Tolerance Sources of information on various religious traditions. Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life A research organisation that deals with many aspects of religion. Origin of major world religions. Approximate dates for origins based for the most part on the founders life span. More Religious Dates—When people suggest sacred dates of particular personal interest, this is a place for sharing the information. There are multiple special designations for every single day. The rich diversity of world religions is displayed graphically. Suggestions are invited. Email Multifaith Library—A programme of the Ontario Multifaith Council. Materials are made available to those who provide spiritual care to residents of Ontario. One unique offering is service to offenders, chaplains and counselors related to provincial incarcerations. Adherents.com The site gives 45,000 adherent statistics and religious geography citations. Based on primary data from census and statistical samples, the site is for researchers on all levels of expertise. Finding the number of participants in any religion is difficult because of various ways of counting and recording. This site is the best resource anywhere in my experience. Sitesatlas The importance of maps in gaining perspective on present and historic religious life has been overlooked. This site, based in Switzerland, offer instant access to maps that cover the globe. A special resource for students. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Presents many sides of religious viewpoints on issues of the day. Links to an wide variety of sources on religions of the world are provided. World Religion Resources Sites of interest are highlighted month by month. AllRefer Reference and