Building A Groundswell
Lighting Up the Network
By Valarie Kaur
When a dozen twenty-somethings gathered in my tiny living room in the fall of 2010, vexed about the firestorm of protest against Park 51, an Islamic center planned in Manhattan known as “the Ground Zero Mosque,” we had no idea that we were planting the seed for a movement.
We were Christian, Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu and Humanist Millennials who had come of age in the decade after September 11, 2001. All of us were tired of witnessing religion wielded as a weapon to destroy, denigrate, and demonize others. This time, through drumming up controversy around Park 51, a small conservative network had succeeded in spreading widespread fear of Islam. When a pastor in Florida sparked riots around the world after threatening to burn the Qur’an, we gathered in my apartment to ask what we could do to stop the madness.
 Kicking off a strategy session, I looked into the beleaguered faces of my friends and decided to try a different approach. I asked us instead to envision the world that we wanted. Literally. We closed our eyes and imagined what our street corner would look and feel like in a society where every human being lived, worked, and worshiped without fear. Read more...
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 Brian McLaren and Martin Marty to Pen for Parliament Newsletter
by CPWR Staff
Brian McLaren and Martin E. Marty, both author-theologians, push for transforming and empowering religious thought in Christian faiths. Also setting standards for cooperative religious practice, both champion interfaith dialogue through teaching positive yet critical interpretations of theology. McLaren is the top interfaith activist in the rising community known as the “Emergent Church,” Read more... |
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 Pope's Media Frenzy Not Pleasing To All Catholics
by Rev. Dr. John Pawlikowski
I have a measure of hope with the election of Pope Francis. But unlike so many I am not ready to jump on the bandwagon until I see whom he appoints to key positions and what his stance might be on key issues. I must confess to being upset at the superficiality of reporting, sometimes downright in error, by much of the American media. Read more... |
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"No Hay Camino Para La Paz" An English/Spanish View on Interreligious Dialogue
Ambassador to the Parliament of the World's Religions from Mexico Link, Rosalia Lozano Benitez, writes, "Interfaith work invites us to adopt an attitude of total respect for the other, this being the cornerstone of it. Acceptance of the values, customs, traditions and above all other religious beliefs - stating that it is in diversity have a place where respect, harmony, unity, and is based on the plurality is where we give a face of peace. Read more...
 From CPWR's Bookshelf, We Recommend...
Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? By Brian McClaren (Jericho Books, 2012) Brian McClaren, prolific emergent church writer, has moved full into the interfaith conversation with this new book. “Can you be a committed Christian without having to condemn or convert people of other faiths? Is it possible to affirm other religious traditions without watering down your own?” ... Read more...
Imagining A World Without Hate
The Anti-Defamation League premiered a video launching its centennial year on March 20 entitled, “Imagine a World Without Hate.” Thanks to masses of peace-minded internet users, the video is trending across social web channels nabbing nearly a million views through the ADL’s official YouTube site already. Watch Video...
Golden Rule Resource Released Free For Download
 Rev. Dr. Harry Gensler S.J. and Scarboro Missions are sharing a new milestone document in the history of the Golden Rule. The chronicle examines the history of the Golden Rule from ancient to modern times by traversing the cultures, philosophies and religions of history. Essentially, the paper charts the ethical history of humanity through the lens of the Golden Rule. This chronology is an ideal teaching tool with the capacity to reach a multitude of diverse audiences. Interfaith content is included. Download here...
Homage for Swami Vivekananda Brings Interfaith Conversation on Parliament to New Zealand Dinner
Celebrating Vivekananda's 150th Birthday continues world-wide. These photos showcase the Interfaith dinner held in Wellington, New Zealand this month hosted by Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions Ambassador Lachlan Mackay and St. Andrews. How the Interfaith movement can move forward locally in Wellington to carry forward the tradition of the Parliament with homage to Swami Vivekananda's mission was discussed over food and bonding See Photos... |
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Latest from
State of Formation
Voices of Emerging Leaders
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You can now have your gift to support our year-long Faiths Against Hate campaign matched by a generous donor to the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions!
As hate is rising in our nation, it is critical that the forces of faith mediate anger and promote the positive energy of relationships. We must build a stronger interfaith movement for the future of our children and the planet.
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