InterfaithNews.Net

When this newsletter

first wrote about the Darfur genocide 14 months ago, we had some hope
that the governments of the world would have put a stop to the rape and
pillaging by this time. Sadly, this is far from the truth. U.N. Secretary
General Kofi Annan recently wrote, "The looming threat of complete
lawlessness and anarchy draws nearer, particularly in western Darfur, as
warlords, bandits and militia groups grow more aggressive." More action
is needed, including continued diplomatic pressure and a further expanded
African Union presence in western Sudan. At long last, the United States
government is moving closer to supporting new measures; though approval by
the House of Representatives is still necessary, it is a major step forward
for the Senate to have passed its Darfur Peace and Accountability Act this
past week, as reported by the Save Darfur
Coalition.

The Interfaith Youth Core has been getting tremendous press of late. Catch up with their activities, and founder Eboo Patel’s thoughts on the interfaith movement and youth involvement in religions and society, in interviews and articles at:

• Chicago Public Radio, Interfaith Response to Global Conflict (scroll down to Nov 21 to listen
• Speaking of Faith’s Religious Passion, Pluralism, and the Young
• CNN’s Faces of Faith interview (scroll to bottom)
• NPR’s This I Believe series
• (older piece) On Nurturing A modern Muslim Identity

Over twenty organizations representing different faiths - including Art of Living, Brahmakumaris, Ramakrishna Mission, Sant Nirankari Mandal, Diocese of Agra and Church of North India, Emmanuel Hospital Association, Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief, World Vision India, Bharat Sokagakkai, Bahai National Spiritual Assembly, and UNESCO Parza and the World Interfaith forum - participated in an inter-faith connectedness on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Whether in European suburbs or Middle Eastern capitals, religious identity can often seem to be a source or fuel of conflict. And as many Western societies struggle to adapt to an emerging multicultural and multireligious reality, issues of tolerance and “living together” become ever more acute.

In an address delivered at Saint Ethelburga’s Church, Rev. Malcolm Stonestreet speaks of the history and future of the United Religions Initiative in the United Kingdom.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Vatican’s adoption of Nostra Aetate, the landmark document that launched a new positive relationship between the Church and the Jewish people, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has announced the creation of a new online guide that explains the historic changes in Church theology and provides educational resources in order to teach them.

The World Council of Churches’ Education and Ecumenical Formation program and Hartford Seminary, USA, have created the interactive survey on interfaith education to catalogue what is taking place in international communities. The survey is part of the larger Interfaith Education Project (IEP) sponsored by the two organizations.

Professor Tariq Ramadan and Greek Orthodox Bishop Kallistos Ware will lead a field of speakers, artists, writers and scholars in presenting the Third Edinburgh International Festival on Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace, from 8 February to 12 March 2006, MESP 2006.

Charles Gibbs, Executive Director of the United Religions Initiative, writes in his October letter about the International Day of Peace, celebrated on September 21^st.