Widening Vision

The World Congress of Faiths The Growing Interfaith Movement

De: Marcus Braybrooke

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Religions preach peace, but too often have ben hijacked to justify bloodshed and violence. Widening Vision tells the story of the growing interfaith movement, which seeks to bring people of all religions together in the the search for peace, the protection of human rights, service of the poor and suffering,and reverence for all life. The book concentrates on the World Congress of Faiths which was founded in 1936 by Sir Francis Younghusband and recalls key events and the unusual personalities that have shaped this movement. Francis Younghusband - born 150 years ago - was himself a remarkable character. He was an explorer both of the physical and the spiritual worlds. He climbed many of the mountains of Central Asia and lead a British mission to Tibet. His own mystical experiences convinced him that, despite their differences, the world religions were inspired by One Spirit and should together be a blessing to all people. Many remarkable people have played a role in WCF or have given lectures, spoken at conferences, or contributed to the journal, 'World Faiths' - now called 'Interreligious Insight.' Widening Vision recalls some of the conferences and lectures, which still are relevant today - especially the debate that continues about the relation of religions to each other. Can we move beyond past exclusivism to a real fellowship of faiths? The controversial issues relating to interfaith prayer, which WCF pioneered, is discussed in detail. Two interfaith services which the World Congress of Faiths has arranged recently - 'Go for the Golden Rule' and 'Respect for the Earth' are reproduced as appendices Widening Vision also tells of the growth of a global interfaith movement. WCF has worked closely with the Temple of Understanding, Religions for Peace, The United Religions Initiative the International Association for Religious Freedom, the Braham Kumaris World Spiritual University and many other bodies. WCF encouraged some of these organisations to come together to mark the centenary of the 1893 World Parliament of Religions - the beginning of the modern interfaith movement - as a 'Year of Intereligious Co-operation and Understanding in 1993' and to meet together at an interfaith gathering in India in 1993, called.'Sarva Dharma Sammelana' (Religions Coming Together). Widening Vision recalls the setting up of an International Interfaith Centre in Oxford. It then the describes the recent Parliaments of World Religions which have been held in Chicago in 1993, Cape Town in 1999, Barcelona 2004, and Melbourne 2009. Marcus and Mary Braybrooke have been a members of the World Congress of Faiths for nearly fifty years and have taken part in many of the events described. Widening Vision, therefore, is often a first hand account of what happened, although detailed references are also made to source material. . Marcus Braybrooke ends the book with a personal reflection. He highlights changes in the world context in which WCF works and the changing emphases of its work. A key issue today is the relation of 'religion' to 'spirituality' (a misleading dichotomy' in Marcus' opinion).' Is inter-spirituality taking the place of 'interfaith'? Marcus, recalling his own experience of God's love shown in Jesus Christ, suggests that the more faithful we are to our own path the closer we come to devotees of other religions. The true meeting place is in the presence of the Holy One, where we sense a compassion that that may inspire people of all faiths and good will to co-create a world of compassion and love, which the environmentalist Jane Goodall, says is 'the ultimate destiny of our species.'