The World's Parliament of World Religions began in 1893 as a forum for dialogue among all the faiths of the planet. It celebrated its centenary with the establishment in 1993 of a centenary conferece. While the conference is no-longer in existence, we are celebrating the accomplishments of the past century.
Interreligious dialogue
The Council of World Religions (CoWR) is an interreligious group. Its primary purpose is to promote peace by understanding and dialogue among all people. In recent years, however, funding and participation have been difficult for the Council. In 2004, $276,000.00 was refunded to the council for expenses incurred in the Barcelona Parliament of World Religions. This dispute was triggered by the Madrid bombing of a train a few weeks before the parliament.
The organization puts on an event called the Parliament of World Religions every five years, which is the largest regular interreligious gathering. The latest event, held in Melbourne (Australia) in 2009, featured over 600 programs and 1,300 speakers. The meeting featured many notable speakers, including Hans Kung, a theologian, and the Dalai Lama.
Peaceful coexistence
The Parliament of World Religions is a gathering of world leaders and religious leaders, who meet for seven days every year since 1995. Its aim is to promote harmony and peace in the world by peaceful coexistence. The event will feature more than 500 programs and related events.
Education of religious leaders
Religious leaders must be educated for multiculturalism. This requires more than just religious skills and knowledge. They must also have a better understanding and training in interfaith relations. This project aims to address these issues. It aims to tap into existing initiatives of participating schools and develop an initial framework for multi-faith leadership education.
The research team that created the program conducted extensive research into the educational experiences of students from the participating schools. A focus group interview was conducted with a sample of students to document their experiences. Students were also surveyed after the Parliament. Five sessions of seminar sessions were captured digitally. Many coordinators reviewed the course syllabus, and professors were interviewed in person and in writing.
Ambassador's Program
The Parliament of World Religions Ambassador's Programme is a platform that allows people of faith to meet and learn from one another. The Council for a Parliament of World Religions organizes the program. The Council's goal is to create dialogues between people of different religions and cultures. Each month, a new Ambassador is introduced by the AAC.
The Parliament of World Religions has served as a catalyst for dialogue among people of various faiths. It has also helped to create a framework for visions of a more just and sustainable future. The program's mission is to encourage global cooperation between world religions, since the well-being of the planet depends on our collective efforts.
Women's Task Force
The Women's Task Force in Parliament of World Religions, which was inaugurated just recently, saw participants improve their interfaith programming, plenary session, and worship. In the coming years, the Women's Task Force plans to broaden its platform to include women of minority faith traditions and to continue interfaith conversations.
Dr. Elizabeth Ursic, PhD is the co-chair of the Women's Task Force and is also a professor in religion and spiritual direction. Her duties include co-chairing the Society of Biblical Literature's Women's Caucus. Her academic qualifications include a PhD in Religious Studies from Arizona State University, MDiv from Yale Divinity School, and MBA/MA in International Relations from the Wharton School of Business. Her work has been featured on over 100 radio programs and in many publications.