Interfaith Dialogue: "Culture of Peace" Meet at the United Nations

[Sing4Him]

Interfaith Dialogue: "Culture of Peace" Meet at the United Nations

General Assembly President voices hope that global meeting on values will spur action - UN News Centre
"..The General Assembly President expressed optimism today that the high-level “Culture of Peace” gathering, which kicks off tomorrow with the leaders and senior officials from dozens of nations, will hasten action on such global obstacles as hunger and poverty. Speaking to reporters in New York, Miguel D’Escoto underscored that the two-day Assembly plenary meeting at United Nations Headquarters is not about religion, which he said can be a “very divisive subject.”.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Lead U.N. Faith Forum - WashPost
"..Saudi Arabia, the oil-rich Islamic kingdom that forbids the public practice of other religious faiths, will preside Wednesday over a two-day U.N. conference on religious tolerance that will draw more than a dozen world leaders, including President Bush, Israeli President Shimon Peres and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.. ..The event is part of a personal initiative by Saudi King Abdullah to promote an interfaith dialogue among the world's major religions. The Saudi leader agreed for the first time to dine in the same room with the Israeli president at a private, pre-conference banquet Tuesday hosted by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.. ..Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice planned to attend the conference to hear the Saudi King's opening address. Bush is scheduled to deliver an address Thursday. The White House said last month that it welcomed the Saudi initiative and supports "the right to practice one's religion" and other principles of religious freedom enshrined in the U.N. charter.." [more]

Saudi king's UN appearance has domestic audience - Reuters
"..Saudi Arabian King Abdullah will push for religious tolerance at a U.N. meeting opening on Wednesday, aiming not only to impress the West but also to send a message to domestic opponents of his reforms. "The king wants to drive a message to the Western world: to change the idea that Islam is a religion of war and terror. But he also wants to send a message of tolerance back home where he has a problem," said Jamal Khajoggi, editor of al-Watan daily and a member of the delegation accompanying the king. "The king wants to change the mind-set of the Saudi people and its clerical establishment.".." [more]

Saudi Arabia to lead UN talks on religious tolerance - IHT
"..Saudi Arabia, which deploys a special police force to ensure that only one narrow sect of Islam predominates in the kingdom, is sponsoring a discussion at the United Nations on religious tolerance starting Wednesday. More than a dozen world leaders are expected to attend, including President George W. Bush, Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain and the Saudi monarch, King Abdullah, making a rare appearance at the UN headquarters. Officially, the United Nations does not sponsor religious discussions, so the two-day session of the General Assembly is being billed as a meeting on the "Culture of Peace," and most of those attending are government rather than religious figures.." [more]

Saudis in move to improve image of Islam - FT
"..Saudi Arabia is sponsoring a two-day United Nations conference in New York to promote interfaith dialogue to improve the image of Islam as a religion that favours dialogue over violence. The conference, which begins on Wednesday, is seen as part of the Saudi monarch’s efforts to promote a more moderate brand of Islam in a kingdom that has been accused of breeding extremism since the September 11 attacks in 2001. By sponsoring interfaith events, King Abdullah may also be hoping to advance the debate over radicalism within the kingdom.. ..“The dialogue comes at a time when the world is criticising Islam,” the Saudi monarch told local media. “It is regrettable that some of our sons have been tempted by Satan or the brothers of Satan.’’.." [more]

UN meet opens new era of peace - Arab News
"..A special UN General Assembly session on cultural and interfaith dialogue opens at the United Nations headquarters in New York today.. ..UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he had received “an encouraging list” of dignitaries who would take part in the interfaith dialogue. “This initiative will be a very important one in which world leaders, and representatives from different faiths will sit together. They will provide us with very important momentum,” Ban said.. .

http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/articles/2008/special-reports/081112-un-dialogue.html


BULK INFO---- who IS this King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia?:thinking

[MovinUp]

U.N. Faith Forum Denounces Intolerance, Extremism
November 13, 2008

World leaders, senior diplomats and religious figures condemned extremism and terrorism Wednesday at a U.N. conference on interfaith dialogue that brought Israel and Arab countries together to promote tolerance.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, the event's chief sponsor, opened the meeting with a call for greater understanding in the Middle East, saying that religious and cultural differences in the region have "engendered intolerance, causing devastating wars and considerable bloodshed."

"Terrorism and criminality are the enemies of every religion and every civilization," said Abdullah, in his first address before the U.N. General Assembly as Saudi Arabia's leader. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended the speech, and President Bush will address the conference Thursday.

entire article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/12/AR2008111202670.html

[His Bride]

He certainly is trying to be a great Peacemaker. I think that the Bible should not only warn us of false christs and false shepherds but also false peacemakers...seems to be several of them floating around.

[Believer in miracles]

Peres hopes King Abdullah will be a prevailing voice in the region and among all people

http://www.yourdictionary.com/prevailing

prevailing Definition
pre·vail·ing (-iŋ)

adjective
superior in strength, influence, or effect
most frequent, noticeable, etc.; predominant
widely existing; prevalent

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1036787.html


when you click on the link...there is a video clip at top of article..it is on there, just under a minute

You have to wait for the ad to finish to hear his short message

link for his speech in article

[BornAgain123]

Isn't today the last day for this meeting? I'll be waiting for the outcome et al of it later today.

[fracturedInfinity]

Is it just me or does everyone these days seem to be saying Peace and Safety, even though there isn't much of it?

Which brings a thought to mind.

1 Thessalonians 5:
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

I'd always considered this to be them saying peace and safety as in, they have it. Could it mean rather, that when everyone is clamoring for peace and safety, that's when the swift destruction comes?

Some translastions say something to the effect of "When people say, 'There is peace and security,'" while it seems most say something to the effect of "While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!'".

http://bible.cc/1_thessalonians/5-3.htm

Is there peace and safety while they are saying it, or is peace and safety what they want because there isn't much?

[BornAgain123]

Is it just me or does everyone these days seem to be saying Peace and Safety, even though there isn't much of it?

Which brings a thought to mind.

1 Thessalonians 5:


I'd always considered this to be them saying peace and safety as in, they have it. Could it mean rather, that when everyone is clamoring for peace and safety, that's when the swift destruction comes?

Some translastions say something to the effect of "When people say, 'There is peace and security,'" while it seems most say something to the effect of "While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!'".

http://bible.cc/1_thessalonians/5-3.htm

Is there peace and safety while they are saying it, or is peace and safety what they want because there isn't much?

Nope-you aren't alone-pretty much all of our global leaders have said this throughout '08.

And yes-to me, they themselves know something big is about to implode, so they're only covering it up by trying to make an illusion that everything's OK.

It's alot like the typical depressed person who keeps masking his/her feelings by living in denial-only for the fan to hit the ceiling at any given moment.

[HisAlways]

Are you kidding me? A king, of the most religious intolerant nation on earth is heading this meeting.

That is just laughable. Totally ridiculous. Where is someone with enough moxie to stand up and speak the truth here?