-Caveat Lector- http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_dougherty/19990810_xnjdo_group_want.shtml For the links. Group wants united religion Is goal mere co-operation or creation of one faith? By Jon E. Dougherty © 1999 WorldNetDaily.com Representatives of all religious faiths from some 50 countries have held regular meetings since 1995 for the purpose of creating one global religion, according to a United Religions Initiative. According to the group's draft charter, the effort is "the result of a growing global conversation about the creation of the United Religions -- a daily forum for cooperation and peacemaking among religions and spiritual communities." During their four-year history, URI has sponsored numerous global events, six regional conferences and three global summits in San Francisco from 1996 to 1998. Citing "forces in our world today that are calling for and supporting the creation of a United Religions," the group is busy exploring a purpose, foundational values, principles, actions and organization structure URI may eventually adopt. However, critics of the initiative question the rationale for the adoption of such a globalized religion and question what "entity" -- taken from Christianity or another faith -- the religion will choose to sanctify. Based on URI's published statements, that entity appears to be focused more on earthly "spirits" than on God or Jesus Christ. For example, according to a published summary of URI's goals and projects, the group believes that "all living beings are both sacred and connected," and "recent human activities, which have taken place in aggressive opposition to nature, have resulted in an ecological crisis." The alleged crisis, URI said, includes "deforestation, the loss of wild lands, overpopulation, the loss of productive agricultural lands, degradation of the resources of the water planet, dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and extinction of species." The group, however, cites no specific studies or evidence to substantiate their claims. Christianity, on the other hand, teaches believers that Man has "dominion over the earth" and does not "share" it with animals. Christians also believe in one Supreme Being, not a series of "gods" that preside over specific earthly functions. Furthermore, among URI's "actionable ideas" are several statements indicating the group is largely concerned about issues involving primarily "children and women," which critics say is biased and exclusionary against men. And, they added, such inclinations do not measure up to normal religious standards of unity. For example, signatories to the URI document must agree to "... express our gravest concerns about the worldwide brutalities against children and women, including physical, mental, and sexual violence and rape as it occurs all over the world. We earnestly appeal that all religious, spiritual and ethical movements and individuals take all possible steps to end this violence against children and women." Bill Rankin, a spokesman for URI, told WorldNetDaily that as a Christian he understood how other Christians might misunderstand the focus of his group. However, he said, "that's not what we're about." "URI is interested in unity," he said, "and in finding the common ground that exists in all of the world's religions. We don't intend to make any one of them preeminent." Rankin denied URI was working to create a so-called "one world religion." In a published statement, URI said the group's members only seek "to bring people of different religions and spiritual traditions together in ways that respect and celebrate their uniqueness. The 'united' part of the URI is not a blending of religions but a unity of purpose: to work cooperatively for the good of all people." "URI believes people don't have to agree on theology in order to work together to make the world a better place," Rankin said. One of the main goals of the group is to put an end to multi-ethnic, multi-religious violence which, he said, "has sparked some pretty terrible violence in the world, especially in the 20th century." "We want to create an environment where people of all religious groups can come together in one place and work out their differences," said Rankin. "We don't think these differences always have to lead to violence." He told WorldNetDaily that URI "is not funded by one or two religious organizations, and we don't want that." He said URI believes individuals, rather than organized religious groups, should provide funding so "everyone will be comfortable with us and can feel like they have an equal say in what we're trying to do." Regarding the ecological perspectives of URI, Rankin said to his knowledge "that issue comes from what most people around the world are saying, that they'd like to focus on saving the ecology and preserving natural resources as a goal." "I think that's different from what you've called 'earth worship,'" he added. A spokesperson at the Family Research Council offered no comment on URI, but said FRC would examine the issue and analyze URI's intentions. The Christian Coalition did not return phone calls seeking comments. Jon E. Dougherty is a senior writer and columnist for WorldNetDaily, as well as a morning co-host of Daybreak America. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. 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