Parliament of Worlds Religion 1999 Capetown SA

Author(s): Parliament of the World’s Religions
Publisher: USA Parliament of the Worlds Religions

Page 3

1999
PARLIAMENT
A New Day Is Dawning! At this Millennial Moment it is natural to reflect on history and on the future. The 1893 and 1993 Parliaments had significant impacts on local, national and international life. We expect the 1999 event to be equally successful. What a privilege it is for us to hold this Parliament in Africa, South Africa, and in Cape Town. We are just beginning to see the potential of this great continent and of this great country. South Africa has taught so much to the world about the strength and potential for interreligious solidarity as exemplified in the struggle against apartheid. It is because of this and so much more, that we paraphrase the words of the historian, Henry Adams: the work that we do in the Parliaments affects eternity; we can never tell where our influence stops.
Dr. Howard A. Sulkin
Chairperson of the Board
Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
O F
The South African Board and Staff are honoured to welcome you to the 1999 Parliament of the World's Religions in Cape Town. We marvel that people from around the world are gathering on the tip of the African continent to build bridges across the barriers of misunderstanding that have divided humanity for millennia. Who would have guessed a mere decade ago that South Africa would play host to this noble international undertaking? We thank God for such a bounty. The reality of the Parliament extends beyond the eight days of the conference. We have witnessed the transformative forces released during the long months of preparation for it to have already expanded and deepened the relationships amongst South African religious communities that were born during the long years of the struggle against apartheid. The South African religious community's connections with the commercial, NGO and governmental sectors have also been strengthened, as have our relations internationally with other religious communities.
May the African Parliament of the World's Religions generate bonds of love and understanding between souls all over the world. May it fit the participants to face the challenges of the next millennium and contribute to human progress. May the light generated from the tip of Africa illumine the path humanity must tread to emerge from our collective adolescence into the dawn of our long-awaited coming of age foretold by the world's religions.
Dr. Amy Seidel Marks
Co-Chair. Parliament of the World's Religions.
South Africa
2
THE
WORLD S RELIGIONS
REETINGS
We salute the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions for choosing our country to host its 1999 Parliament. South Africa has a unique history of interreligious solidarity in the struggle against the crime against humanity called Apartheid. The Parliament presents us with a wonderful opportunity of celebrating and sharing with the world our pain of our struggle as well as the joy of our liberation. But the Parliament also provides us with a wonderful platform for enhancing the process of interreligious solidarity for the demanding tasks of reconciliation, reconstruction and the renaissance of our continent and the world.
It is indeed a great honour and privilege for us to be welcoming you, the participants to the African Parliament of the World's Religions.
May you be both challenged and inspired by your African experience.
May the Peace, Mercy, and Blessings of God be upon you all. Imam Rashied A. Omar
Co-Chair, Parliament of the World's Religions, South Africa
It is a matter of great inspiration to host the Parliament of the World's Religions on our continent at the turn of the century. Indeed, a continent that most scholars acknowledge to have been "an astonishing crucible of the earth's history for the last two billion years...Nearly everything of note or consequence started in Africa".
Thousands of adherents, scholars and activists will convene in Cape Town with the serious intention to add to the strengthening of the movement of the [Global] Spiritual and Moral Rebirth a rejuvenation that is essential in the African Renaissance.
We welcome this important challenge and opportunity to help the planetary community move forward. Thank you! Light, Peace, and Prosperity,
Afrika Msimang
Co-Director, Parliament of the World's Religions. South Africa