History of Religious Thought: The Interfaith Movement

REL

211

History of Religious Thought: The Interfaith Movement

Although conversations and debates between various religions and spiritual traditions have transpired gone on for centuries, the interfaith movement formally began in 1893, organized by the Parliament for World Religions in Chicago. For the first time in history, religions and spiritual traditions came together for the purpose of establishing better communications and cooperation among the world?s religions. The Parliament continued its efforts to engage the world?s religions and spiritual traditions in interfaith dialogue. Although it was not until 1993 that the Parliament convened its second meeting, interfaith dialogues and multi-religious programs and activities were initiated by various religious organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. Most of the early interfaith activities were organized by Christians, particularly the Roman Catholic Church, who, after the Second Vatican Council and Nostra Aetate in 1965, called for ?all to forget the past? and officially recognized Muslims as ?those who worship God,? and instructed all of its churches to engage in dialogue with Muslims as well as with Jews. Additionally, it was the World Council

Fall, Spring

Undergraduate

Yes

019828