Pre-World Parliament of Religions Meeting in Jerusalem Addresses Religion and Violence

April 30, 2004

Source: National Catholic Reporter

http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2004b/043004/043004f.php

On April 30, 2004 the National Catholic Reporter reported, "We had gathered here March 2 and 3 at the Rachem Rachel Hotel on the outskirts of Jerusalem at the invitation of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions. The parliament will hold a major convocation in July in Barcelona, Spain, expected to draw upwards of 10,000 people. One of the focuses of the event is religious violence, and the participants in Jerusalem, mostly Jewish and Muslim but also Christian, Buddhist and Hindu, were modeling an interfaith discussion technique on this volatile topic. Jerusalem seemed an appropriate setting for conversation on the role religion plays in world violence. It is the conviction of Dirk Ficca, executive director of the council (and an American Presbyterian minister), that global problems are best addressed not by pronouncements from religious and political leaders, but by individuals and grass-roots groups inspired by their various religions and committed to 'simple and profound acts.'"