Rabbi calls for 'UN of religions'

[cal04]

The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, has called for the creation of a world body with representatives from the major religious groups. Rabbi Metzger was addressing the International Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in Seville, Spain. He called for the formation of a "United Nations of religious groups". The Imam of Gaza, Imad al-Faluji, said politicians lied but religious leaders had a different objective - to work towards a higher good. The imams and rabbis at this conference, which opened on Sunday, say the world is in crisis and it is time they acted to restore justice, respect and peace.

Straight talking

The delegates have made it very clear that now is the time for concrete initiatives. At the opening ceremony Rabbi Yona Metzger said his idea of a "United Nations of religious groups" could "bring a bridge between religions to help the bridge of the diplomatic way". That plan has broad support from key participants like Frederico Major, the co-president of the Alliance for Civilisations, the lobby group for international conflict resolution, supported by the United Nations and initiated by Spain's Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The speeches at this conference rather than using polite, diplomatic language have at times been brutally direct. When the Rabbi Metzger harangued mainstream Muslims for not standing up to Osama bin Laden, Islamic leaders nodded in agreement. Both Muslim and Jewish leaders have shown a preparedness to take criticism.

There have also been strong expressions of opposition to any killing in the name of religion. At the end of the opening ceremony, the Muslim delegation sang an oration to the Prophet Mohammed before resuming discussions about the ideas they plan to present to their Jewish counterparts. The religious leaders have three days to come up with a manifesto that aims to convert their words into actions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4800194.stm

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Will atheists, freethinkers, agnostics, Deists, and pagans be

frozen out of this group? I would venture to guess they would.

[4freethinking]

4. Excellent point

Nuff said.

[11cents]

6. Oh fer goddess's sake

Instead of complaining that it ain't worth shit if the deist-friendly pagan vegetarians of color aren't included, how about noticing that this seems to be a forum where the Chief Rabbi of Israel and the Imam of Gaza are speaking honestly and productively with each other.

Atheists, freethinkers, agnostic, deists, and pagans aren't killing each other or anybody else, and good on them. The upsurge of religious violence and intolerance we're seeing doesn't have anything to do with atheists, freethinkers, etc. They're not the ones who *need* to be talking. And a forum whose only purpose is to give every group that exists a chance to announce that it exists would be -- like a typical Democratic Club meeting, actually.

[Coastie for Truth]

7. Agreed. NT

:kick:

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Silly goose...

The idea that this was proposed by the lead Rabbi of Israel simply means it is "untrustworthy." You must not have received the memo that states, "anything Israeli is bad!" :eyes:

[Coastie for Truth]

11. Au Contraire

The Imam of Gaza also proposed it, and there is another memo saying "everything Palestinian is good."

Seriously, I think the good thing is that both of them agreed on something!

[redphish]

2. Good luck getting christian fundies to participate.

[Teaser]

3. God to be Keynote speaker

I hear he's going to rip everyone.

[JDPriestly]

5. Wonderful idea.

[Sinistrous]

8. Interesting concept.

Imagine a time when those to whom the adherents of the various religions actually listen started preaching brotherhood and tolerance instead of hate and exclusion.

Why...why it might actually lead to an outbreak of PEACE!

Sinistrous

[4freethinking]

9. I wish people would

stop thinking that religion makes them unique or special. Ourselves and our way of thinking as individuals makes us unique. Individuals will always make up a group, society, community, etc. Without individual thought you will not have creativity or invention. Our lives would never improve. Religion will always seek conformity while free thinking will seek advancement and improvement.

Imagine.