wfn.org | Baha'i news: Appeal for tolerance at Parliament of the World's Religions

[Sally Weeks <sweeks@bwc.org>]

>Baha'i World News Service
>http://news.bahai.org
>For more information, contact: news@bahai.org<mailto:news@bahai.org

Appeal for tolerance at Parliament of the World's Religions

MELBOURNE, Australia, 11 December (BWNS) - How can interfaith dialogue and  religious freedom flourish when one religion declares that another is not a  religion? Are tolerance and cooperation only possible among people who sha re the same doctrinal view of the world?

These questions were posed by a representative of the Australian Baha'i com munity at one of the sessions at the Parliament of the World's Religions, w hich has come to an end after a week of speeches, panel discussions, devoti onal programs, and artistic presentations.

Dr. Natalie Mobini made her remarks during a 30-minute presentation on the  fifth day of the parliament, within a session on religious conflict and per secution that focused on Myanmar, Thailand, and Iran.

Reflecting on the origins of the interfaith movement - in particular the fi rst Parliament of Religions in 1893 - Dr. Mobini related how its principal  organizer believed that it had "emancipated the world from bigotry."

"The interfaith movement has continued to be inspired by the vision of a wo rld in which the followers of different faiths are able not merely to engag e with one another in a spirit of tolerance and respect but also to collabo rate in contributing to the advancement of society," she said

"At the same time, the havoc that religious intolerance is continuing to wr eak in our world now poses a more serious threat to humanity's progress and  well-being than at any previous time in history."

Dr. Mobini explored how the interfaith movement might encourage mutual resp ect and cooperation among the followers of all religions and beliefs. She a sked how dialogue can occur when one religion attempts to delegitimize anot her because of underlying theological differences.

In the case of Iran, the results of such an attitude have included the impr isonment of the Baha'i community's leaders, the desecration of its cemeteri es, and the destruction of its holy places.

Referring to the Islamic government of Iran denying that the Baha'i Faith i s a religion, Dr. Mobini asked, "Is this not the same as the past, when Chr istianity claimed that Islam is not a true religion?"

"And when the machinery of the state is used for the purpose of eliminating  that religion, the challenge moves into sharper focus," she said.

The lives lost during the crusades highlighted the prejudice that colored t he attitudes of Christians towards Muslims in past centuries because Christ ianity did not recognize Islam as a "divine" religion, she noted.

"Christians today have, however, been able to transcend that intolerance wi thout compromising their own theological beliefs and engage in interreligio us dialogue with Muslims with an open-minded spirit. The world needs to lea rn from this."

Dr. Mobini cited examples of Islamic and other religious leaders who have h eld respectful dialogue and collaborated with others in spite of theologica l differences.

"Should not everyone seek to find within the particular framework of his or  her beliefs how to set aside exclusionist claims in order to collaborate w ith followers of religions whose beliefs are different?" she asked.

In the case of Iran, the Baha'i Faith does not need to be recognized as "di vine" in origin, said Dr. Mobini, "but simply asks that the fact of its exi stence be accepted and the rights of its followers upheld."

Responding to a question from the audience about what action individuals ca n take to combat such instances of human rights abuses, she replied that th e support of the interfaith movement was appreciated. She said that the tra nsformation of attitudes begins at the grass roots and urged individuals to  take the spirit of the parliament back to their communities.

More than 5,000 people from some 80 countries attended the parliament, whic h ran from 3 to 9 December. Some 70 members of the Baha'i community played  an active role in the proceedings, including participating in panel discuss ions with members of other religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Jud aism, Hinduism, and Islam as well as indigenous faiths and traditions.

"It is evident that growing numbers of people are coming to realize that th e truth underlying all religions is in its essence one," Dr. Mobini said.

"This is the challenge of all of us here and to all who desire to overcome  religious intolerance and hatred: how to live up to a 'golden rule' that is  at the heart of each of the world's religions; urging us to treat the foll owers of other faiths as we ourselves would wish to be treated."

To read the article on the Web site and see accompanying photographs, go to :
http://news.bahai.org/story/741