Can Humanity be the Only Religion?
The Parliament of the World’s Religions—an assemblage of people of all faiths and traditions—convened in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Salt Palace Convention Center to address the principal theme, “Reclaiming the Heart of Our Humanity—Working Together For a World of Compassion, Peace, Justice and Sustainability.”
Some 10,000 members of 50 different religious traditions representing 80 countries joined in the common goals of improving society and promoting peace.
“The Parliament was a wonderful opportunity to network with people who are tackling social issues,” said Janet Weiland, L.A.-based Church of Scientology Public Affairs representative.
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Those issues are drug abuse, crime, immorality, intolerance and abuse of the human rights of others. Volunteers manned booths to share educational materials published by Church-supported programs.
They include the Truth About Drugs drug education and prevention initiative; United for Human Rights, which makes the articles of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights clear and understandable; and the nonreligious moral code The Way to Happiness: A Common Sense Guide to Better Living.
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The Parliament of the World’s Religions first convened in 1893 in Chicago, bringing together Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Spiritualists.
This year’s event was held in the city that is the global headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and also included Mormons, Scientologists, Native Americans and other indigenous faiths.
The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 11,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 countries.
