Interreligious Dialogue is at the heart of inter-cultural dialogue. “It is not a ‘hobby’; it is an urgent matter for the consequences it has on the faith of believers and on the social and political life of society” to quote the Report of the Meeting of Major Superiors of Men, 2003. Because in Barcelona, the summer months were dedicated to inter-cultural dialogue, the Parliament of the World’s Religions could choose no better setting for its fourth meeting. Three previous meetings: Chicago, 1893, widely regarded as the beginning of the inter-religious movement; Chicago, 1993 and Capetown, 1999 have preceded this meeting in Barcelona. Six to eight thousand multi-religious participants were present to:

• Seek peace and sustainability and commit to work for a better world
• Acknowledge the humanity of the other and broaden a sense of community
• Foster mutual understanding and respect, and learn to live in harmony in the midst of diversity.

A three day preparatory assembly of religious leaders was convened in Montserrat, a surprising world where due to geological changes of the distant past, eye-catching peaks rise in amazing shapes. The famous black Virgin, the “Moreneta”, is there – a wooden sculpture dating from the late 12th century. Hers is a spiritual presence to strengthen the monastics and to offer a strong feminine influence to the world of visitors who flood there. The Assembly prepared a commitment to world issues of grave concern such as: recognition of religious violence, sustainability of the earth’s clean water, international debt of poor nations, the plight of refugees and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Those present at Montserrat were asked to commit to profound and simple acts in these areas of great concern.

The Parliament, July 7-14, provided an excellent opportunity for harmony among religious and spiritual communities and fostered engagement with prominent civil institutions in order to achieve a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. The great diversity of people from many religious traditions generated tremendous energy to work together towards a more just world and offered the opportunity to make new friends or to renew cherished acquaintances from previous meetings. Of 1500 program proposals, 400 were selected to represent a balance of religious and spiritual traditions. Morning meditation, from 8:00-9:00 am, in-depth symposia, a film festival, workshops and plenary sessions filled the days and evenings with a market place of experiences.

The Temple of Understanding, together with ten organizations based in and around New York City, had prepared a three day Symposium on Interfaith Education. This is an on-going consultation to identify both the promising and problematic features of Interfaith Education. Our speakers explored the multiple contexts in which interfaith education exists, asked how it can address the most pressing issues of our time and considered the transformative potential it has to offer. While many organizations offer Interfaith Education, the support structures that would connect them as a field and lend momentum for growth need to be strengthened. Our goal is to build support networks, share resources and address the challenges necessary to develop this nascent field. Thus Day 1 addressed Pathways to Peace, the Multiple Contexts of Interfaith Education; Day 2 was concerned with The Power of Commitment, Communication and Justice; and Day 3 turned to The Wisdom of Listening, the Contemplative Aspect and the Role of Personal Transformation.

The Symposium attracted speakers from many different worlds – from academia, many religious traditions –Jain, Roman Catholic from Uganda, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, African Oral Tradition, Baha’i, and around the world - Sri Lanka, India, Africa, Australia, Japan, the UK and USA. It included an interactive component using appreciative inquiry and ended with a wonderful ceremony presenting Hollister Awards to Hans Kung and Pir Vilayat Khan of the International Sufi Order, (his wife received the honor since our beloved Pir Vilayat had gone to God the previous month).

Highlights from the rich experience of the Parliament that warmed our hearts and enriched our love for diversity included:

• The Sikh Community from Birmingham, UK, who generously served a free lunch to 6000 people daily because their tradition urges them to feed all who come to the Gurdwara. It was like a multiplication of the loaves and fishes – only it was vegetarian.
  
• Raimon Panikkar’s keynote address on the Transformative Potential of Interfaith Education where he and Rita Gross, a Buddhist responder to his talk, advised us to leave our western perspective and enter the eastern world of silence and space if we wish to understand the traditions of the east. This, of course, means that we should practice the religions rather than study them. Fr. Panikkar’s life itself is a prophetic lesson in interfaith understanding. It was very exciting to meet four rscj from Spain, including Mariado Gorriz, at this talk.
  
• At the Hollister Award ceremony great generosity was abundant when drummers carried huge Taiko Drums up four flights because they did not fit in the elevator and overwhelmed hundreds in the audience with the intensity of a religious experience from Japan. Carman Moore had composed music, assembled a choir and included people from thirteen traditions in the Pool of Prayers.
  
• Rabbi Soetendorp’s story perhaps was the most unforgettable. In 1935, he was placed in a valise punctured with holes and his parents knocked on a door. If that door had not opened he would not be here to enjoy his grandchildren. He pledged to spend his remaining years making sure that this world will be safe and livable for the grandchildren of this generation of young people.

It would be hard to exaggerate the energy and excitement surrounding such an event It recurs only every five years – probably a good thing since it takes great planning and deep purpose to generate such inspiration.