wfn.org | World Religious Summit Brings Mixed Responses

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September 2, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD

World Religious Summit Brings Mixed Responses

New York, NY, USA.     The Millennium World Peace 
Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders meeting in 
New York August 28-31 has brought mixed responses.

While many have applauded the opportunity for inter-
faith dialogue with over 1,000 leaders of many 
faiths present, concerns remain over the agenda and 
composition of the Summit, reports Jonathan 
Gallagher, United Nations Liaison director for the 
Seventh-day Adventist Church.

"Though the Summit is not an official UN event, it 
has support from the organization," says Gallagher. 
"The UN Secretary-General's recognition of the 
importance of religion is welcomed, as is his 
emphasis on the right to freedom of religion."

Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in his address to 
the Summit on August 29 that religion is "a realm of 
extraordinary power."

"Religion helps us find our place in the cosmos; it 
knits families and communities together; it endows 
individuals with compassion and morality," said 
Annan. "Whether one believes without question or 
wrestles with doubt; whether one is part of a 
religious community or worships in the privacy of 
the soul, religious practices and beliefs are among 
the phenomena that define us as human."

But religious rights need to be defended, said 
Annan.

"So let us today, from this great center of global 
community, reaffirm every man and woman's 
fundamental right to freedom of religion: to 
worship; to establish and maintain places of 
worship; to write, publish and teach; to celebrate 
holidays, to choose their own religious leaders, and 
to communicate with others at home and abroad. 

Where religions and their adherents are persecuted, 
defamed, assaulted or denied due process, we are all 
diminished, our societies undermined. There must 
be no room in the 21st century for religious bigotry 
and intolerance."

Yet the practicalities of how to achieve this 
remains a matter of debate, says Gallagher.

"Some representatives voiced concern over the agenda 
of the Summit and its purpose. More specifically, 
delegates questioned why a number of Christian 
groups-including the world-wide Seventh-day 
Adventist Church-had not been invited, and what were 
the intentions of the funders. Other concerns 
centered on what role would be played by the 
proposed International Advisory Council of 
Religious and Spiritual Leaders. Any attempt to work 
towards a kind of "unified world religion" or single 
religious voice-as some are proposing-would be 
doomed to failure," Gallagher concludes.

Although the meetings were held at the UN's New York 
headquarters, the official summit sponsors include 
Ted Turner's United Nations Foundation, Better World 
Fund and others. 

The US media mogul Ted Turner received an 
enthusiastic response despite his often irreverent 
remarks. "What disturbed me is that my religious 
Christian sect was very intolerant,'' he said. "We 
thought that we were the only ones going to 
heaven.'' It just confused the devil out of me 
because I said heaven is going to be a might empty 
place with nobody else there. So I was pretty 
confused and turned off by it,'' Turner said.'

It is particularly ironic, noted a recent Associated 
Press (AP) article, that Robert Edward (Ted) Turner 
III is involved, as he was once told a Dallas 
Morning News reporter that Christianity is "a 
religion for losers." And "I don't want anybody 
[i.e., Jesus Christ] to die for me." 

According to US media reports Turner's financial 
support for UN activities threatens to exert undue 
influence over UN policy and international 
relations. As is typical for the outspoken 
billionaire, the activities funded by Turner's 
foundation are controversial and even raise serious 
human rights concerns. 

However, Turner's personal politics may not be the 
only driving force behind the UN Foundation. Clinton 
administration officials and others who advocate 
more UN funding may see Ted Turner's United Nations 
Foundation as a way to support activities not 
currently funded by UN member states, especially the 
U.S. (266/2000)