International Interfaith Congresses and Parliaments

Q: Does the series of interfaith congresses that began in Chicago in 1893 and, I believe, most recently met in South Africa, continue? If so, where and when will the next one be? Can you provide a link to the organizing committee, please?

R: The series certainly goes on and has met in Chicago in 1993, Cape Town in 1999 and Barcelona in 2004. The next Parliament of the World's Religions will be in Melbourne, Australia from 3-9 December, 2009. The organisation is the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) and the link is: www.parliamentofreligions.org/

The International Association for Religious Freedom was the first organisation to follow up the work of the 1893 Parliament, organising an international Congress in London in 1901. It has continued to hold regular Congresses with the most recent in Taiwan in 2006. For more information, see www.iarf.net