Parliament of Worlds Religion 2004 Barcelona

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

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Welcome from the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
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distrust, uncertainty, tension and violence. Often called "second-tier diplomacy," this person-to-person and community-to-community approach establishes the trust and the will to seek the practical solutions that make for peace. Those convening this Parliament are convinced that hope for the world lies in this approach.
And there is no better place to gather for such a purpose than Barcelona. Barcelona is, of course, a world-class city. It is one of the great gateways to Europe, and stands geographically, historically, and spiritually at the unique crossroads of East and West, North and South. As the host city, Barcelona enlivens this fourth Parliament experience with its own unique history and ethos, and by the fact that Catalan and Spanish will be two of three official languages of the event. And the history of Spain offers a rich and inspiring heritage of an unprecedented experiment in learning to live together in the midst of religious diversity - the "golden age" of Spain where Muslims, Jews and Christians sought to live, side by side, in peace.
Holding the Parliament event in conjunction with the Universal Forum of Cultures echoes the Columbian Exposition setting for the first World's Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in 1893. We are excited and honored to convene the 2004 Parliament in the context of this great exploration and celebration of culture that will be open to all, that will be an expression of the creativity of all peoples, and that will provide for an encounter of global dimensions with new and imaginative means of participation. We share the Forum's premise that a constructive and inclusive dialogue between cultures and religious and spiritual communities is absolutely essential if we are to seek visions of a better world in the midst of pressing and often desperate problems facing all of humanity. The three core themes of the Forum - creating conditions for peace, protecting and promoting respect for cultural diversity, and sustainable development - could not fit more perfectly with the vision and mission of this 2004 Parliament event.
And there is no better time than now to hold this Parliament in Barcelona, for in many important ways what is happening in Barcelona today is representative of what is happening around the world. Today, Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain are facing a future of growing immigrant and religious and spiritual diversity. Hosting the 2004 Parliament event in Barcelona provides a focal point for talking about and working towards more intentionally diverse and open societies. This current process of transformation underway in Spain is a compelling and instructive story the world needs to hear.
Central to our vision for the hosting of Parliament events is how the local religious and spiritual communities can actively shape the scope and nature of the event, The Council for
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Parliament of the World's Religions 2004