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Panikkar, a keynote speaker in the Conference on Pluralism, warned that we must be skeptical in our search for a "universal theory" of even that of a common essence of religion. He and others made clear the danger of a rush to find a "common essence" for, in the process, we might miss what is genuinely different, and therefore what is genuinely challenging in other religions. Stating in advance what is common may inhibit our ability to really listen, to be simply open. While rejecting the need to always find common ground, the theologians of pluralism paradoxically hold fast to the value of dialogue, while warning always against the pitfalls of a "radical skepticism." They try to walk the difficult path between "inclusivism" and total relativism.
Functionalist
I define the functionalist model of interfaith dialogue as the search for broadly common goals and purposes, especially that of uniting all humankind--even non-believer--for the sake of the survival of the planet. Functionalists are pragmatic. They realize how difficult it would be to unite "...the follower of the differing intellectual theologies which so characterize Urantia." (1010)
Functionalists can find considerable support for their approach in The Urantia Book, which preaches that "...Someday religionists will get together and actually effect cooperation on the basis of unity of ideals and purposes rather than attempting to do so on the basis of psychological opinions and theological beliefs." (1019)
This Urantia Book statement is a fair description of the Parliament! The Assembly of Religious and Spiritual Leaders did succeed in unifying around the Declaration of a Global Ethic, which was issued on the final day of the Parliament. Meeting for three days in the auditorium of the Art Institute of Chicago, the site of the 1893 Parliament, the delegates debated this and many other proposals and, with a few abstentions, approved the document.
The Declaration bases unity on shared ethical principles, not theology. It affirms a broad and common understanding for ethical behavior for all peoples, for norms and standards describing what is acceptable, and unacceptable, across all religious and spiritual traditions. This includes commitments to non-violence, just economics, tolerance, equal rights, and respect for life. It also condemns inequities in the world economy, environmental abuses, media manipulation, sex discrimination, and religious violence. The Assembly also affirmed a process by which the Declaration could take root in the world community, through an ongoing process of debate and discussion in the religious community, aided by scholarly input and critique.
The Declaration was drafted by the noted Swiss theologian Hans Kung, by invitation of the Council of the Parliament. An extended argument for such a world ethic appears in his most recent book, Global Responsibility: In Search of a New Ethic, reviewed in a recent issue of The Spiritual Fellowship Journal.
Let us hope that the many lessons from the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions come home for Urantia Book readers. Can we envision a day when reader-believers in the fifth epochal revelation lead the way into a new epoch of religious tolerance and interfaith understanding--even world religious unity?
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