Parliament of the World’s Religions

Nearly all religious and spiritual traditions of the world call upon their followers to respect creation and preserve it for future generations. This moderated panel discussion will include Catholic, Spiritualist, Zoroastrian, and Hindu perspectives, with a Q&A to follow.

Ta'kaiya Blaney, the 14-year-old actress and environmental activist, addresses the Spotlight on Indigenous Peoples at the 2015 Parliament of the World's Religions in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 19th.

Every religious, spiritual and faith tradition views earth through a sacred lens and teaches adherents to protect the environment and all forms of life on our planet. At a vital moment in history, the Global Interfaith Movement and the Environmental Movement Join Forces at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Salt Lake City on October 15 - 19, 2015.

This panel took place at the 2015 Parliament of the World's Religions in Salt Lake City, Utah. Panelists include Mary Evelyn Tucker, Richard Clugston, and Dr. Kusimita Pedersen. 2015 is a promising year for mobilizing for transformative change. Governments adopted a Post 2015 UN Development Agenda in September 2015 which is guided by sustainable development goals (SDGs). Governments will meet in Paris (COP 21) in December 2015 to adopt a binding agreement on climate change. The Earth Charter, completed in 2000, provides a development agenda that cares for people and the planet. Working with a coalition of religious, spiritual and values-based organizations Earth Charter International has been actively seeking to ensure that governments adopt a Post 2015 UN development agenda that promotes full human development (spiritual growth and sustainable living) within a flourishing Earth community. These organizations have also been active in encouraging their governments to adopt a climate change treaty that makes a just transition to a carbon neutral future. The presenters describe their efforts to shape the SDGs and to advance climate justice followed by a discussion of the impact actions can have on the Climate Change treaty at COP 21 in Paris, six weeks after the Parliament.

(See talk by Mary Evelyn Tucker for panel description)

Prof. Mary Evelyn Tucker, Founder of the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale, opens a panel on the Earth Charter at the Parliament of the World's Religions 2009 in Melbourne and gives an introduction to the main themes of this international declaration.

In Part 3 of “Thomas Berry The Great Work,” Christopher Key Chapple, Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology at Loyola Marymount University, presents Berry's religious philosophies and work around the religions of South Asia. He calls attention to two enduring hallmarks of Berry's though: authenticity and affectivity. This panel took place at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne, Australia.

In Parts 1 and 2 of “Thomas Berry The Great Work,” Mary Evelyn Tucker gives a brief outline of Thomas Berry's life and work, particularly his academic work in the history of religions and his rethinking of human-earth relations towards flourishing. She additionally presents seven principles for the common good from Confucianism, as they relate to Thomas Berry's thought. The videos conclude with a short clip of Thomas Berry talking about the Great Work. This panel took place at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne, Australia.

Anne Marie Dalton is a professor of religion and culture at St. Mary's University, Halifax, Canada. She teaches and researches in the area of religion and ecology, science and religion, and religion and development. She completed her doctoral thesis on the the work of Thomas Berry. She is a member of the Canadian Forum On Religion and Ecology. This panel took place at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne, Australia.

(See part 1 for talk description)

Carter Phipps of EnlightenNext magazine asks Mary Evelyn Tucker about the future of religion and spirituality.