Global Parliament of the World's Religions host thousands online
On Saturday, October 16th at 7 pm ET, the 2021 Parliament of the World's Religions kicked off its 8th global Convening of interfaith activists, religious leaders, scholars, and practitioners from all the world's faiths to address the theme: "Opening Our Hearts to the World: Compassion in Action."
“I welcome you all to the 8th Parliament of the World’s Religions,” said Nitin Ajmera, the Chair of the Parliament. “The dialog we generate today will be the foundation of a great tomorrow.”
“Our diversity is our biggest asset. Our hope is our guiding light.”
Rev. Steven Avino, Acting Executive Director of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, in his opening remarks asked, “Is the world better than 10 years ago? It is not and that is a problem.”
“As people of faith, we can fix this world. We can be better. We have no choice,” he added. “We must recognize the sacred in one another. Only then can we have a better world.”
The 2021 Parliament is unique in the long history of these convenings, with its inaugural Convening held in Chicago in 1893.
The 2021 Parliament is the first to be hosted online, featuring 48 hours of live programming from around the world and made available exclusively to registrants for 30 days after.
Offering over 575 programs during the live 48 hours and over 100 luminaries of diverse faith and spirituality, the 2021 Parliament will provide attendees a unique and safe opportunity to explore notions of grief, hope and inspiration, compassion in action, justice, climate change, human rights, and more.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jane Goodall, Shirin Ebadi, His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Chief Rabbi David Rosen, Reverend James Lawson, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, Chief Oren Lyons, Reverend William J. Barber II, and His Eminence Muḥammad ˁAbdur-Raḥmān Muḥammad Aḍ-Ḍuwīnī are just a few of the inspiring luminaries featured.
Parliament Program Chair, Rev. Phyllis Curott, emphasizes the diversity and richness of the programming, "In this time of growing global challenges, the world's faiths are gathering to share our grief, our hope and our actions that express the deep compassion that heals our suffering. When the world's faiths gather in all their diversity we inspire one another with the best of our humanity and we bless one another with all that we need to mend what has been broken."
Learn more about the 2021 Parliament of the World's Religions at https://parliamentofreligions.org/parliament/2021-virtual