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North American Interfaith Network
Building Bridges of Interfaith Understanding,
Cooperation and Service.
About Us
The main focus of NAIN’s is to support
the growth of interfaith understanding by supporting the work of member
organizations. NAIN chooses the term “network” to describe its work
rather than institution, organization or association. NAIN sponsors
conferences, now familiarly called "Connects," held at first every
two years and now annually. In between Connects, NAIN networks.
Bahá’is, National Spiritual Assembly
The
principle of the oneness of
humankind is the pivot around which all the teachings of Baha'u'llah revolve.
Baha'u'llah taught that humanity, after a long and turbulent adolescence, is at
last reaching a stage of maturity in which unity in a global and just society
finally can be established.
Center For Interfaith
Relations
Festival
of faiths schedule: lead is John Dominic Crossan of the Jesus Seminar. The theme for the Festival of Faiths this year is
“Coming of Age.” Stephen Prothero:
Review:
Personal Jesus :In his new book, a BU professor looks at how the US turned a
religious figure into a national celebrity
Hindus for Jesus
The Chaplaincy Institute (ChI -
pronouced "Chee")
Trains
hospital interfaith chaplains. ChI’s
Interfaith Ordination program incorporates studies in world religions,
spiritual psychology, Interfaith theology, dreamwork, pastoral care, ceremonial
rites, and community ministry. Creative approaches and practical skills for
chaplaincy and ministry are emphasized. Through multi-modal, experiential
learning students gain a deeper understanding of the world’s faith traditions
while simultaneously deepening their relationship to their own spiritual path.
The ChI community is inspired by an interfaith perspective of mutual respect
and harmonious living among people of all faith traditions. We celebrate and
support, as an intrinsic human right, the dignity and unique spiritual path of
each individual and Ecospirituality.
Church of Scientology –
Canada
Scientology
holds in common with many of the world’s oldest religions the belief that man
was put here to work out his own salvation and that only by doing this can he
fully understand his relationship to God the Creator. Scientology principles
further hold that man is basically good and that his salvation depends upon
himself, his relationships with his fellow man and his attainment of
brotherhood with the universe. Council for Parliament of World's Religions
The theme of the 2009 Parliament, Make a World of
Difference: Hearing each other, Healing the earth, underscores the
opportunity for religious and spiritual communities and all people of good will
to act on environmental concerns and take responsibility for cultivating
awareness of our global interconnectedness. The Covenant of the Goddess is one of the largest
and oldest Wiccan religious organizations. Wicca, or Witchcraft is the most
popular expression of the religious movement known as Neo-Paganism. Wicca
or Witchcraft is the fastest growing religion in the United States according to
the Institute for the Study of American Religion. It's practitioners are
reviving ancient Pagan practices and beliefs of pre-Christian Europe and
adapting them to contemporary life. The result is a religion that is both old
and new, both traditional and creative. Pagan Federation International
Hans Küng: "There will be no peace among nations without peace
among religions, no peace among the religions without dialogue among the
religions. There will be peace on earth when there is peace among the world
religions." We are a unique
co-operative of faiths working together for a common purpose. The faiths
represented in our organization are: Aboriginal, Bahai, Buddhist, Christian,
Eckankar, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Scientology, Taoist, Unitarian,
and Zoroastrian.
Fed. of Zoroastrian Assn of NA
Mobilizing these great social, moral and spiritual
dimensions of the world’s religions in service of the common good is essential
for the well-being of the human family. We are united in the conviction that
all religions obligate their followers to work for justice among all peoples,
and to care for one another and our common home, the earth. We
commit to doing so.
As religious leaders, we are committed to the path of multi-religious
cooperation for peace. Religious traditions—each in its own way—summons their
followers to the path of multi-religious cooperation for the common good. This
path:
Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs)
Nuclear Disarmament
Terrorism and
Violent Conflict
Rooted in the Sikh tradition and the universal teachings
of its Gurus, Gobind Sadan, "God's House Without Walls," is an
international interfaith community currently with centers in India, and in the
U.S., which has grown out of Baba Virsa Singh ji's vision for world peace.
Gobind Sadan is a place of pilgrimage for all people. It's a farm-based
spiritual community with locations in India and the United States, combining
hard work and meditation under the blessings and guidance of Baba Virsa Singh
Ji. Babaji teaches the universal messages of all prophets and transforms people
through love, faith, meditation and service. His Holiness Baba Virsa Singh's
Challenge to Religious Leaders:
"If you want peace on your borders first break down
the barriers to peace among your religions and awaken peace within. Create a
climate mutual love and respect"
"Celebrate each other's holidays. Share each other's
scriptures."
Interfaith Unity Light is good in
whatever lamp it burns. See picture logo
Lotus
Light of Truth Universal Shrine Truth is One by H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda
In order to have a better
world we must learn to think of the globe as a whole. Whatever problems we
face, there are also solutions. This needs a lot of cooperation and requires
that everyone rise above personal, selfish interests and think in terms of the
whole world. Only by having a universal
and spiritual vision can we bring positive change into the world. We are
literally destroying ourselves in the name of religion. We criticize each
other’s faiths, proclaiming, "Mine is the best, yours is the worst."
Even the same religious groups have splintered factions. Is that the purpose
behind religion? Do you think God will be happy? Because we are one in Spirit,
it doesn’t mean that you should renounce your own path or approach. That is not
unity; that is conversion. Real unity means accepting all the various
approaches, and that is what interfaith understanding is all about.
Truth is one. That is why
my motto has always been, "Truth is One, Paths are Many." The great
sages and saints have experienced the same truth but only expressed it in
different ways. It does not matter what name you give to the nameless Spirit.
The only way to eternal peace and joy is to realize that Christhood or
Buddhahood or Krishnahood. But when we miss that point, we fight in the name of
Spirit.
And because God is not
limited to any one tradition or creed, the symbols of all the religions are
there. In this way, the Yantra is also a beautiful reminder that we can respect
and learn from all the paths, and follow any one of them to reach the
Divine. The
All Faiths Yantra®,(see picture) designed by H. H. Sri Swami
Satchidananda. Symbols in the petals, clockwise from top: Faiths Still
Unknown, Hinduism, Judaism, Shinto, Taoism, Buddhism, Other Known Faiths,
Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Traditional African Faiths, Native American
Faiths
Ontario Multifaith Council Hospital chaplains logo
Pluralism
Project at Harvard University Religious Pluralism
In 1960 Juliet Hollister (1916-2000) created the Temple of Understanding
(TOU) after a realization that the world was in grave danger unless the gifts,
wisdom, and insights of religious traditions could be recognized and cultivated
to promote positive social change. She is the first woman to have founded an
interfaith organization... After their meeting, Dr. Schweitzer signed Juliet’s
travel log "My hopes
and prayers are with you in the realization of the great Temple of
Understanding, which has a profound significance ... The Spirit burns in many
flames." A few years
later, in the December 1962 issue of Life
Magazine, the cover article described “’Juliet Hollister's Wonderful Obsession’ as a
mission ‘to draw people
together to build a movement embracing all faiths.’” This
article and the subsequent CBS News documentary gave the TOU international
recognition and support, affording Juliet access to other luminaries such as
Egyptian President Anwar-el Sadat, Carl Sagan and Dr. Hans Kung.
Tengye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Temple
Dr.
Gail Allan United Church of Canada is representative and UCC Program
Coordinator for Interchurch and Interfaith, in the Justice, Global and
Ecumenical Relations Unit.
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