SIGNPOST #6

Yes, there’s a rise in religious fundamentalism…but it’s a classic “eddy” that hides the huge progress we’re making in the other direction.In other words, there’s a far more meaningful rise of interreligious dialogue, understanding, and cooperation. I know. I’ve been involved in that movement for the past 25 years.

My experiences inform my persuasive argument that the great faith traditions are converging, not in belief but in cooperative common action to fight poverty, hunger, social injustice, violence, and environmental abuse. Over the last two decades, a global interreligious movement has taken shape, bringing together groups, communities, activists, leaders, and the faithful to work on building a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.

Since 1993, the Parliament of the World’s Religions (which I headed for many years as global director) has convened huge working gatherings—in Chicago, Cape Town, Barcelona, Monterey, and Melbourne—where thousands of people from every imaginable religion come together to design and implement new cooperative projects and initiatives to nurture non-violent conflict resolution, defend human rights, and protect the Earth. Religions for Peace is another global interreligious group that works closely with the United Nations and peacemakers around the world to bring the influence of the great religious traditions to bear in peace-building.

There are countless others. Hundreds of religious and interreligious activist groups are listed as UN-affiliated non-governmental organizations (NGOs). And the movement grows stronger every day.