Parliament of the World’s Religions

Respected theologian, speaker, author and director of John Mark Ministries, Rev Dr Rowland Croucher turns 72 today. He’s an amazing guy who has been sharing his faith through various means for many years. He speaks to hundreds of thousands of people online each year.

A couple of years ago I spoke to him about interfaith dialogue. The Parliament of the World’s Religions had just been launched in Melbourne and was set down for December 2009.

Two years on and the parliament is currently being held in Melbourne with thousands of people from all the major world religions gathering to discuss faith issues.

I’ve just listened again to my interview with Rowland and what he had to say back then is just as relevant today. I urge you to listen to what he had to say by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

Is it arrogant to claim that any one religion has an exclusive connection to God? Does discussing faith matters with followers of other religions mean that we think it doesn’t matter which spiritual path you take? What is the role of interfaith dialogue in our spiritual walk?

I grew up in 60s and 70s in the suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. That means that I’ve generally had little connection with people who follow other spiritual paths. My two trips to India have helped to broaden my understanding of those who don’t hold to the same beliefs that I do. I haven’t changed my view that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life, but thankfully I can dialogue with others about their journey without feeling that my own beliefs are being threatened.

Should Christians be dialoguing with believers from other faiths? Is there anything we can learn from those who follow other religions?

We are living in a world of greater and greater diversity. If you’re wondering how faith fits into that world I’d encourage you to listen to what Rowland said back in 2007.

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The 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions was recently launched at Federation Square in Melbourne Australia. It’s an event with an 114 year history and it occurs somewhere around the the world every 5 years.

The 2009 event is to be held in Melbourne and is expected to attract eight to ten thousand guests from eighty countries as well as more than five thousand Australians, providing opportunity for ordinary people of faith – Christians, Jews and Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists – to share their faith with each other and learn more about what each other believe.

Respected theologian, speaker, author and director of John Mark Ministries, Rev Dr Rowland Croucher believes strongly that interfaith activities are something that ‘real’ Christians need to involve themselves in. I recently spoke to him on 98.5 Sonshine FM.

Rowland has years of experience in talking through the tough questions with a range of people on their own spiritual search. He has some brilliant things to say and I heartily recommend that you listen to our interview by clicking the audio player below.

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