Final Reflections and Lessons the Parliament of the World’s Religions

Hello Friends,

At this parliament, four major Urantia organizations, the Urantia Book Fellowship, the Urantia Foundation, ANZURA (Australia and New Zealand Urantia Readers Association) and the UAI (Urantia Association International) all worked together on presenting and exhibiting the Urantia Book. We put aside differences and worked together. Each group contributed something of great value to the process. It was a blessing to work side by side with our fellow Urantia organizations at this Parliament. Urantia Book readers from New Zealand and Australia did a great of job with logistics in pulling this effort off. I offer heartfelt thanks to them.

For me, the overall tone of this Parliament was that of reevaluation. It gave religionists who attended from around the world a chance to take a hard look at ourselves. At what we are doing and what we can do. We listened to the heart wrenching pleas of the Indigenous People present there as they beseeched the modern world to stop defiling the earth. We learned that they cause only 1 % of the problem and yet are suffering 90 % of the consequences. Leading experts on climate change are calling the catastrophe they face “climate injustice.”

Equally compelling was an address to the Parliament on the first day by President Jimmy Carter, who admonished us to stop the barbaric practice of discrimination and crimes against women and especially to quit using ancient religious texts as justification. He has left his own religious organization in protest of this and is boldly speaking against such practices. What a brave soul. To see his complete address, click on his picture to the right. In fact, if you can, spend some time at the Parliament’s official site. Just click on the picture of the Dalia Lama. There are many interesting videos, images and articles that offer an in depth overview of this important event.

The Parliament offered its participants many lessons on transcending and healing. As I was talking to leaders of other religious movements I realized that schisms among fellow devotees are not uncommon, and in fact, they are typical. I spoke at length to a woman representing the Spiritual Living Centers (formerly Religious Science). She told me that her movement (born in the early 20th Century) had a major schism about 25 years ago, but, in her words, “we are finally coming back together.” It was interesting to me that she thinks 25 years is a long time. Some religious differences are handed down from generation to generation and have gone on for centuries. It always amazes me that people can be so angry in the present over something that happened long ago. I’m reminded of the quote from the UB that says, “…human loyalties, once mobilized, are hard to change.”

The Urantia Book's wisdom admonishes us to get to know each other’s motives and sentiments. To do so is invaluable in helping us create sympathetic understanding for one another. Our sympathetic understanding of our fellows makes it hard to continue hurtful behaviors and it makes it easier to do the right thing. That coupled with true humility is essential to peace within our homes, communities and the world. The Parliament is where the religions of the world are getting to know each other. It takes courage to surrender notions of religious sovereignty and find common ground. It’s evolution happening before our eyes and that’s a very good thing!

While there, I had several occasions to sing and chant with friends. At one point the harmony we achieved was exquisitely beautiful. Later, my friend shared an insight about this with the rest of us. She said, “Isn’t it a wonder that only through real diversity can we ever hope to achieve true harmony?” I had to let that one sink into my heart. It was simple and obvious and yet so profound. If each of us sang the same note, harmony would be impossible. True harmony comes only when diverse notes are blended together. Once achieved, it is entirely worth the effort required to achieve it. But true harmony can only be achieved when we practice singing all together. Harmony is a process of striking balance with others, not too loud, not too soft, but in such a way as to blend one’s own uniqueness with the uniqueness of others.