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Parliament Releases RFP for Future Host Cities of Largest Global Interfaith Event
Global interfaith organization seeks interested cities from around the world to embark on the path of becoming host to a future Parliament of the World Religions conference. We represent the world's most historic interfaith gathering and bring the most diverse and forward-thinking group of multinational leaders, advocates and practitioners of global peace, justice and sustainability.
Attending the historic Parliament event is said to be "transformative," for both the hosts and participants. After the past five-day Parliament in 2015 concluded with record attendance from more than 70 countries and hundreds of traditions, an unparalleled platform established for young leaders, women and indigenous peoples, the next questions are:
"Where's the Next Parliament,
When is the Next Parliament,
and Can My City Host It?"
News has spread that the Parliament is working to cut the downtime between global conferences and speed up the process of selecting future sites. The Board is now conducting reviews of interested cities for a series of upcoming Parliaments and invites the public to submit an inquiry for their city to join the site selection process. An updated and revised Request for Proposals is now available to help equip interested hosts to explore the prospect of becoming a Parliament city. This RFP will be used to identify the home of the next Parliament of the World's Religions.
If hosting more than 10,000 of the world's most passionate global citizens would attract the interest of your community, now is the time to connect with us.
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 Three Poignant Takeaways from Parliament Staff at Religion Communicators Council Convention
by Austin Sisson, Executive Coordinator at the Parliament
Last weekend, I traveled with Molly (our Director of Communications) to New York City to participate in the annual convention of the Religion Communicators Council. Besides learning how to use the sprawling NYC subway system (watch the gap) and where to find the best lox bagel in Manhattan (Russ & Daughters), there were several takeaways that I gained from the lectures and workshops that I attended, not to mention the casual conversations with attendees that I had between events, that I believe are valuable as we in the interfaith movement attempt to provide the world with timely, enriching news. Here are three:
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Join Parliament in Signing Interfaith Climate Change Statement Going to United Nations
 "Ahead of the Paris Agreement Signing Ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters on 22nd April 2016, as religious and spiritual leaders, we stand together to urge all Heads of State to promptly sign and ratify the Paris Agreement.
Caring for the Earth is our shared responsibility. Each one of us has a “moral responsibility to act,” as so powerfully stated by the Pope’s Encyclical and in the climate change statements by Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and other faith leaders [1]. The planet has already passed safe levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Unless these levels are rapidly reduced, we risk creating irreversible impacts putting hundreds of millions of lives, of all species, at severe risk. The challenges ahead require honesty and courage and we all must take action to reduce emissions."
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 See Parliament Trustee Fr. John Pawlikowski Present on Holocaust at "Encountering the Stranger" Symposium this June
From the organizers: "Editors John K. Roth and Leonard Grob, in their book Encountering the Stranger, state that, 'Authentic dialogue must aim to overcome existential mistrust of the stranger.' Rather, contributors to their book seek 'fundamental change' which may include 'revising their own tradition’s assumptions and teaching regarding ‘the other.’
An illustrious gathering of renowned scholars, clergy, artists and theologians, representing the Abrahamic traditions, will examine this phenomenon in terms of past, present and future encounters with the 'stranger.' In addition to the editors, presenters will include several contributors to their book. All are welcome to join for this inspiring symposium which seeks to give new meaning to interfaith dialogue. The entire event is free and open to the public.
When & Where June 5 - 8, 2016, Aspen, Colorado • Cost: Free
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Fellowship Opportunity in Creative Nonfiction from Think. Write. Publish. Empowers Writing on Science & Religion
Twelve lucky recipients applying before May 15 will be chosen for two-year $10,000 fellowships with Think.Write.Publish! Fellowship recipients should "have a true story that you would like to tell about harmonies between science and religion."
TWP Science & Religion is a project of Arizona State University’s Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes and the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, in collaboration with Creative Nonfiction and Issues in Science and Technology. TWP Science & Religion is made possible through a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
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 There’s a Place in India Where Religions Coexist Beautifully and Gender Equality Is Unmatched
By Chandran Nair for the World Post
KOCHI, India — Back in the summer of 2015, the heart of a Hindu man was transported across Kerala for a Christian patient in dire need of a new one. Funds were raised by a Muslim businessman to pay for the operation and performed by the state’s top heart surgeon: a Christian. The entire state became engrossed as the story unfolded. An Indian Navy helicopter and an ambulance — both dispatched by Kerala’s Chief Minister Oommen Chandy — sped the heart from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi. Kerala is known by the motto “God’s Own Country.” Some may think the moniker is presumptive, but anyone who has seen its forests, its backwaters, its beaches and its bounty of agricultural produce and spices will know it is well deserved.
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Decline in Religious Belief May Just Be Increase in Honesty
A new article in Time Magazine follows up on a famous 70-year-old cover story asking, "Is God Dead?" by revisiting the question with new data and analysis from Gallup pollsters.
The Gallup source posits that declining social obligations and pressure to claim religious belief may account for some of the 11 percent decline in Americans' reported belief in a higher power over the past 70-year-period.
Interpreting the data this way helps add new consideration to the rise of the nones, the group of people claiming no affiliation to an organized religion, often falling on both sides of the "belief" question.
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 Interfaith Values Flood Social Media on #BetterTogetherDay
At the core of Interfaith Youth Core's calendar is #BetterTogetherDay held annually on April 7 to expand the reach of the day's message; that people of diverse faith backgrounds are 'Better Together!' Check out the creative expressions of the interfaith youth movement in text, image, and video content created by young advocates to build new connections. The Parliament congratulates this year's participating advocates and organizations for unlocking thousands of dollars in relief aid to refugees committed by Interfaith Youth Core.
via #BetterTogetherDay on Twitter
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