-Caveat Lector- from: http://www.ustimesdaily.com/ <A HREF="http://www.ustimesdaily.com/">U.S. Times Daily News</A> ----- Anglican Bishop spearheads United Religions Project JERUSALEM, Israel (ENI) -- Leaders of an initiative to set up a united body of the world's religions, paralleling the United Nations, claim that their campaign is gaining momentum. The Christian clergyman spearheading the "United Religions Initiative", California-based Episcopal (Anglican) Bishop William Swing, said that religions lagged at least half-a-century behind nation states in establishing international forums to resolve conflicts between different faiths. "As nations have got together for the past 50 years to pursue global good, during the same 50 years the religions have not spoken to each other and have not sat down to figure out what their common vocation is," he told ENI during a visit to Jerusalem during which he, along with the Tibetan Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama, attended an inter-faith conference. "Religions talk to each other at conferences, walk away, meet every two years, or five years or never. I am convinced that religions have to meet on a daily, permanent basis. "The problems, among religions, and in religions, are everyday problems, and they are not going to be solved, or addressed or helped, until we finally have some kind of 'United Religions', that will parallel the United Nations, so that we can carry out negotiations." His goal is to set up the world body of religions by June next year, and he remains hopeful of meeting the deadline - with God's help. The initiative also has the support of the Dalai Lama, whose visit to Jerusalem this month was sponsored by Bishop Swing's Inter-Religious Friendship Group and the Inter-Religious Co-ordinating Council in Israel. "The Dalai Lama and I have been talking about this for several years and he is very supportive," said the bishop, who added that he had also discussed his proposal with Vatican officials. But the bishop doubted that the Roman Catholic Church would join, pointing out that it had not become a member of the World Council of Churches. But he added that he believed the Vatican would cooperate with, though not join, a body of world religions. "We see Northern Ireland, we see Sri Lanka, we see the Sudan, we see the Middle East, we see religions pitted against each other. And we are going to see more of that, not less. What happens when we have five extremist religious groups in charge of five countries with hands on atomic weapons?"The only answer, he said, was to set up an organisation of world regions bounded by clear structures and principles, agreed by all the participants. To this end, he and others of like mind have been working on a charter that might be adopted by such a body. He stressed that the model should be quite different from the bureaucratic framework of the United Nations. Nor would a world body of religions have a single headquarters such as the United Nations, but rather would seek to establish spheres of influence through offices around the world. The structural basis for such a body had already been formed thanks to the growing trend to have inter-faith groups, he said. Later this year Bishop Swing will attend an inter-faith forum in Atlanta, Georgia, hosted by former US President Jimmy Carter, who has expressed interest in the project. The proposal will also be aired at another inter-faith conference in India in the coming months. (ENI - Ecumenical News International) (Post date: June 22, 1999) ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End Kris DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
