A Brief History of the Parliament of the World’s Religions

Last updated on: October 8, 2015 at 11:18 am by Deily

A Brief History of the Parliament of the World’s Religions 2015-10-08T11:18:05-05:00 Deily

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Inaugural Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, 1893
Photo courtesy of Parliament of the World’s Religions

As the Parliament of the World’s Religions (POWR) nears its kickoff date, the world’s religious leaders and followers prepare for a historic meeting of the minds and faiths. This year’s Parliament will be one for the history books: the conference will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah for the first time ever. Now more than 120 years after the first meeting, we take a look back at the revolutionary history of POWR and how its grown to be the leading interfaith conference on the globe.

First held in conjunction with the Columbian Exposition in 1893, POWR took place at the Art Institute of Chicago, then known as the Permanent Memorial Art Palace. The Parliament lasted several weeks and laid the foundation for the mega-conference the event has now become.

More than 100 years later, a group of religious leaders, scholars and local organizers met in Chicago in 1988 to convene a centennial celebration of the World’s Congress of Religions. The group became a council and incorporated as a nonprofit committed to continuing the legacy of the inaugural meeting. Thus, the Parliament of the World’s Religions was created. For the next two decades, the Parliament met around the globe, convening in Barcelona, Cape Town, Monterrey and Melbourne.

Now six years after the Melbourne meeting, the Parliament is committed to furthering the diversity and rededicating the world’s religious followers to the purpose of interfaith communication and understanding. This year’s speakers include the Dalai Lama, Oscar Arias, Dr. Karen Armstrong and more. Religions in attendance include Christianity, Islam, Pagan, Hindu and over 40 more. Visit the POWR website for a full schedule of the 2015 meeting.

Learn more about the religions in attendance at the 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions on Deily:

History of Christianity’s first 1000 years.

What is Islam? Islam in Brief.

The True Meaning of Paganism.

Learn more about Hinduism and what its followers believe.

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