Parliament of Worlds Religion 2004 Barcelona

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

Page 108

Honoring Shared Views in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
Esma Alp
Zulekha Pirani
Room 116, Spanish/English/Catalan Academy
This session will be led by students and staff from Dar AlHekma College in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and will explore the commonalities that exist between the three Abrahamic faiths: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Issues addressed will include prophethood, righteous and sinful actions, crime-punishment, love and forgiveness, signs of the Day of Judgment, and heaven and hell, in order to reveal the many shared doctrines and beliefs among these faiths, which seemingly are wholly incompatible with one another. Dar Al-Hekma is a private nonprofit college whose mission is to be a premiere institution of higher education, built on vision, excellence, and pioneering concepts for women in Saudi Arabia. Its graduates will be capable of bringing about positive change for the betterment of self, family, society and humanity.
Ms. Esma Alp holds a degree in English Literature and is the Senior Officer for Student Advancement in the Division of Student Affairs at Dar Al Hekma College.
Ms. Zulekha Iqbal Pirani holds a degree in Management Information Systems and is a Teaching Assistant in the MIS Program in the Division of Academic Affairs at Dar Al-Hekma College.
Praying Together? Mary Braybrooke
Sr. Maureen Goodman Jim Kenney Kusumita Pedersen
Fr. Javier Melloni Ribas Rev. Marcus Braybrooke Imam Abdul Jalil Sajid Rev. Dr. Richard Boeke
Room 117, Spanish/English/Catalan Interactive Workshop
In this session, the first of a three-part program, panelists will share their experiences and initiate discussion with participants, which will be followed by preparation of an interfaith Morning Observance. Part Two will be the Morning Observance on July 9 followed by Part Three, a second workshop during Open Space on July 10 to discuss and evaluate the experience.
Mary Braybrooke is a social worker and magistrate.
Program Descriptions Thursday, July 8, 2004
INTERRELIGIOUS SESSION 11:30 AM 1:00 PM
Sister Maureen Goodman is Programme Co-ordinator at the International Centre of the Brahma Kumaris in London. She is also the BK representative at the United Nations, Vienna. Jim Kenney is the Director of the Interreligious Engagement Project and of Common Ground. He is also Co-Editor of Interreligious Insight.
Kusumita Pedersen, Ph.D., is chair of the Department of Religious Studies at St. Francis College. She has been involved with the Global Interfaith Movement for the past twenty years.
Javier Melloni Ribas is a Jesuit Priest and teacher. He is a Member of Cristianisme i Justicia, and Professor of Spiritual Theology in the Faculty of Theology of Cataluña. A Catalan anthropologist and Doctor in Theology, he has published books on the history of religions and is part of the advisory board of the Local Office of the Parliament of World's Religions. Father Javier specializes in interfaith spirituality and dialogue.
Marcus Braybrooke is a vicar near Oxford, England and a key figure in world interreligious affairs. He is president of the World Congress of Faiths, Patron of the International Interfaith Centre, cofounder of the Three Faiths Forum and an International Peace. Councilor. He is the author of many books including Pilgrimage of Hope, Faith and Interfaith in a Global Age, What We Can Learn From Islam/From Hinduism and three anthologies of prayers from world religions.
Imam Dr. Abdul Jalil Sajid is Hon. International Secretary of the World Congress of Faiths, an interfaith activist and chair of the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony. Dr. Sajid is also a Member of the British Commission on the "Islamophobia Report."
Reverend Dr. Richard Boeke is a Unitarian Minister, interfaith activist and is the Hon. Secretary of the World Congress of Faiths.
Spiritual Democracy of Jainism a Precursor of Interfaith Movement
Natubhai Shah
Room 120, English/Spanish Lecture
One of the most important principles of Jainism is 'relative pluralism', developed to resolve differing viewpoints. It is a synthesis of two doctrines: 'standpoints' and 'relativity'. Relative pluralism is the fundamental attitude which comprehends multiple viewpoints into 'reality' or 'truth'; some term it as spiritual democracy. It aims to unify, coordinate, harmonize and synthesize individual viewpoints into a comprehensible whole and teaches the tolerance, coexistence and respect for others necessary in creating a harmonious society and peace.
Dr. Natubhai Shah is the author of Jainism: The World of Conquerors, and has a Ph.D. in Jain religion. Honorable Research Fellow in the University of Birmingham, he has been involved in interfaith movements for many years, and is responsible for creating the beautiful Jain temple in Leicester, England.
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