The readers I knew who attended the second Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1993, without exception, said it was one of the most powerful spiritual experiences of their entire lives. So, as I departed the U.S. for the third Parliament, I was prepared for something special. But it far surpassed my expectations. Up until these eight days in Capetown (Dec. 1-8, 1999), I knew with my mind that all the people of Urantia were my sisters and brothers. But in Capetown I was immersed in the living truth of God's diverse family on this remarkable planet
The depth of the conversations with Parliament participants was breathtaking. They moved almost immediately to how we each experienced the inner encounter with God, how the paths were many and the Truth one, how we all were sisters and brothers in one family, beloved children of God, at home in a universe filled with undreamed of opportunities for service and growth.
The Fellowship's booth attracted a steady flow of visitors. We also offered a panel presentation, featuring members of both the IUA and Fellowship, which was quite effective. Over the 8 days we gave away all of the Fellowship's eighty books to people who wanted first to read it themselves, and then agreed to place their copies in public or organizational libraries.
I was amazed at how people immediately recognized the unusual nature of the book. The record for brevity probably goes to the leader of the Muslim Youth Education Association. Dressed elegantly all in white except for his black turban, accompanied by one of his wives wrapped in flowing black silk from head to toe except for her expressive eyes, he looked intently for a full minute at the front cover with its pictures of Jesus, an angel, and the earth floating in space. Flipping it over, he read the back cover, opened the book, read briefly, shut the book and said, "I want this. How much is it?" I explained the library placement program's free book offer. He looked me full in the eyes, smiled broadly, filled out the form, and left holding the book tightly with both hands.
One day I left the booth for a while, with one of the books opened to Jesus' "Discourse on True Religion", which had proven to be good "bait" with other passers by. When Mike McIsaac came by an hour later he found two young men, security guards, scribbling furiously, trying to copy the entire section into their notebooks. They said they had never seen such a book, and asked "How can we get one?" Ten minutes later they left with faces shining, each with a book. The next day one of them came back saying, "Did you realize this is an incredible revelation?" We all laughed and embraced.
Halfway through the Parliament, a woman, who had received a book on the first day, came back to the booth with profuse thanks. She said she had not been able to put the book down for three days.
And then there was the young girl from Capetown, a student at an all girls highschool, who sat quietly at the back of the booth reading some suggested sections for two hours while I chatted with others. She was so sweet, asking, "How long can I read this book before I place it in my school's library." "Of course, as long as you wish," I replied. She was beaming as she walked away, book in hand.
One woman explained how her husband, a wealthy aquatic engineer living in Spain, had had a remarkable revelation of Jesus, "the Master". He subsequently wrote several books, and together they had started a worldwide ministry. After looking at several sections in the Urantia Book, the last being the passage where Jesus and Ganid ministered to two ladies of the night in Corinth, she pulled her husband over and read him the section out loud, both with tears in their eyes. When she finished, they looked at each other with amazement. They left a little later, both expressing great excitement at the prospect of reading the entire book and sharing it with others in their travels.
The leader from the Cao Dai sect in Vietnam was most appreciative of the gift of the book for their main library. Their founder was a great teacher who received a powerful revelation in the 1920's, centered on all people being children of God in the heavenly Father's universal family, while all religions were paths to the one truth. Their group was expanding rapidly in many parts of the world, with more than six million adherents.
We had an outstanding exchange with the Executive Director of the Legion of Good Will, the leading spiritual and social ministry organization in Brazil. They minister to more than 3 million people annually, and are working closely with the top leaders of the Brazilian government on many projects, including introducing a multi-faith spiritual curriculum to all of the public schools in Brazil. He was fascinated with the Urantia Book, and took two copies back to place in the main libraries in Brazilia.
Each of us at the Parliament had so many of these rewarding encounters. Steve Rohrbach was able to get a copy of the book to Nelson Mandela, and Gard Jameson was able to give one to the Dalai Lama.
My favorite response to the book came from an envoy sent by the Scottish parliament to invite the Dalai Lama to address that body. After reading several sections, this cheery fellow exclaimed in a thick Scottish accent, "I thought the Course in Miracles was a doorstopper! But this really takes the biscuit!"
Here is one last story. One day I had an extensive conversation with a young woman from Johannesburg, an enlistee in the South African armed forces, who was overjoyed at being able to receive a copy of the book. Later that day I was talking with another woman, who introduced herself as the first woman's sister. She said she could not believe their good fortune at having a copy of the book. She had been by the booth the day before, and wanted so much to read through the book's descriptions of the afterlife. But she was convinced she could never afford the price of such a fine volume, and so she left without ever inquiring. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she told of how her sister burst into their room to share the news that they both could now learn the truth from this great revelation.
Our attendance at the third Parliament of the World's Religions was successful in so many ways. The next such gathering is planned for 2005. Hopefully many more readers can attend, and so enjoy a remarkable opportunity to share truth and love with thousands of sincere religionists from around the world.
by Marvin Gawryn