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November/December 1999

The Parliament of the World's Religions: Call for a 'new [man-deifying] global ethic.'

Dear Friends,

We wish you a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year. It is a privilege to be alive at this turn of the millennium and to celebrate 2000 years of out Lord Jesus Christ. Ever since He was born into this world Christ has made "all things new. " (Rev. 21:5) Everything that came under the influence of His Spirit was utterly transformed. The American theologian Dr D James Kennedy says: "He touched time when He was horn into this world; He had a birthday and that birthday utterly altered the way we measure time... The whole world counts time as Before Christ (BC) and AD. Unfortunately, in most cases, our illiterate generation today doesn't even know that AD means Anno Domini, "In the year of the Lord. " 1)

Jesus said? "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. " (Matt. 13:31?32) So it was with Christianity. A child was born in a stable and laid in a manger. A preacher and miracle worker served for three and a half years. Yet today there arc more than 1,8 billion professing believers in almost every nation of the earth! There are tens of millions whose life's aim is to serve Him alone.

Christ's Church has made more changes for the good than any other movement or force in history. It set up hospitals as early as the Middle Ages. It instituted Universities, spread literacy and education, and encouraged free enterprise. It inspired representative government and guaranteed civil liberties. It caused the abolition of slavery, originated modem science, elevated women, furthered benevolence and charity, raised the standards of justice, and established a high regard for human life. It was Christian missionaries who codified and set to writing many of the worlds languages. It was Christians who composed the richest music and created the finest art. It was the Gospel which made men great assets to society, and it was Christ who gave eternal salvation to countless souls!

James Kennedy says: "When Jesus Christ took upon Him set(the form of man, He imbued mankind with a dignity and inherent value that had never been dreamed of before. Whatever Jesus touched or whatever He did transformed that aspect of human life. " And then he quotes: 'All the armies that every marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life. " ? Before the coming of Christ, life was cheap. Children could be sacrificed or aborted. Women were regarded like servants. The elderly were often discarded. Slavery was rife, Cannibalism was endemic. Animals were unprotected. ?But then it all changed. With Christ came mercy based on the parable of the "Good Samaritan" (Luke 10:33), and Christian education inspired by the "Great Commandment" (Deut. 6:6,7). Nations became powerful and prosperous, believing that "righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. " (Prov. 14:34). Freedom came into the world, for "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. " (2 Cor. 3:17) Science flourished because men thought Gods thoughts after Him. (Gen. 1:28) Business prospered because men obeyed the Ten Commandments, especially "Thou shalt not steal.. Thou shalt not covet. " (Ex. 20:15,17) Families became strong because men believed that "mar7ioge is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. " (Heb. 13:4) Medicine reached the heights, for Christ inspired compassion and care. "Great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. (Matt. 12:15) Nations became civilized, letting their "conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. " (Phil. 1:27) And so history abounds with men and women who knew the Living Lord and experienced Christ's amazing grace. Transformed by His love they transformed the world ?among them St Paul, Augustine, Tyndale, Wycliffe, Luther, Calvin, Nightingale, Newton, Händel, Livingstone and others.

The 20th century has seen man's greatest achievements: the aeroplane, the moon landing, the information explosion, the technical revolution, the medical miracle. All are built on the heritage of Christianity. But hu[man]ity has become overconfident. It has started to believe in its godlike abilities and is acting like God. Apostasy has blighted the last decades, and civilized standards have declined. The Christian heritage is no longer prized. Dr Kennedy says: This has led to "and age in which only one prejudice is tolerated ? anti?Christian bigotry.. Today, the only group you can hold up to public mockery is Christians. Attacks on the Church and Christianity are common. " 2)

Parliament of the World's Religions
One example of this is the "Parliament of the World's Religions" (PWR) which was held from 1?8 December 1999 in Cape Town. This misnamed inter?faith conference has no constituency, no elections, and no legislative powers. The participants are not mandated by their religions. On whose authority, then, do they call themselves a "Parliament"? Who finances them, and to whom are they accountable? Apart from a list of Trustees of the "Council for a Parliament of the Worlds Religions", headed by Jim Kenney (Director) and D Howard A Sulkin (Chairman) and a list of staff and planning committee members there is no indication as to who is really behind this body, if indeed it is a body. From the contents of their publications one can assume that they are in tune with the United Nations and its aims. The "Parliament" had chosen to meet in Cape Town, they said, because the interfaith movement of South Africa, especially the "World Conference on Religion and Peace ", had proved that political victories can be won by harnessing religious fervour. "The legacy of an extraordinary moral and spiritual victory, " said the PWR, "offers a rich and inspiring setting for the 1999 Parliament of the World's Religions. " 3) In her welcome the Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Nomaindia Mfeketo, mentioned the past "separation, domination, exploitation, slavery and suffering, " and Dr Howard A Sulkin said in a TV interview: "We are here to celebrate the end of apartheid It will teach us what we can do to renew society. " The "Parliament" offered daily whole?day sessions of a South Africa Forum, which were presented by "Liberation Theologians" and ANC politicians. ?

The meetings of the "Parliament of the World's Religions" took place just after the Hindu fast month, during the Christian Advent, and before the Muslim fast month Ramadan. The expected massive participation of Capetonians did not materialise. Indeed, though there were supposed to be 7000 participants the attendance looked more modest, and the numbers of the (largely sponsored) participants dwindled in the bright summer weather. There were few Christians, except for ecumenicals. Evangelical book tables were absent, as their organisations would have been listed as PWR sponsors. Some Christian groups distributed evangelistic tracts and a missionary from Johannesburg blew a ram's horn to symbolise Christ's victory over the powers of darkness.

The "Parliament" opened on International Aids Day. The S.A. Houses of Parliament were draped from top to bottom with a red AIDS ribbon. Other buildings continue to bear the sign as permanent fixtures. In the Company Gardens, an AIDS Memorial Quilt was unfolded and an AIDS exhibition was held at the Civic Centre. At its southern side the Civic Centre displays the giant poster of a huge condom, spanning several floors. What a landmark! ? Most of the activities of the PWR took place at the Technikon, the Good Hope Centre, the University and the Civic Centre. There were people from every country and religion, even a coven of witches from Chicago. Ex?president Nelson Mandela addressed the Sunday plenary and the Dalai Lama the closing session. There was drumming, singing, dancing, praying, and blessing. A peace pole, bearing the inscription 'May Peace Prevail on Earth, " was planted on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela had been in prison. The Muslim editor of the Cape Times, Mr Ryland Fisher, who had so vigorously prepared the ground for the PWR, was rewarded with the appointment of Editor of New Group Editorial Projects for Independent News and Media. Financially Cape Town did well. '7he Parliament of the World's Religions brought more than upliftment to Cape Town. Delegates spent over R3?million a day and made shop and hotel tills ring merrily to the tune ofR22?million. " (S. Times, 12.12.99)

The "Parliament's" promoters made it clear that the only thing which they would not tolerate was religious intolerance. They obviously perceived as intolerance the request of several Christian organisations that the item 'Jesus, the Holy Fool: A Christology for the New Millennium, "be removed from it programme. It was blasphemous and offensive to Christian believers. Headed by the international Christians for Truth these Christian groups sent letters to Mr Gordon Oliver, an ex-mayor of Cape Town and one of the PWR's co?directors. In addition, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) raised the matter in Parliament. But Mr Oliver, in concert with the PWR, replied that neither the title nor the address of Elizabeth-Anne Stewart, "an eminent Roman Catholic theologian", would infringe the rights of Christians. Nevertheless, the title was changed to "Holy Foolishness: A Christology for the New Millennium" which, in essence, remained the same. ? Miss Stewart, however, was forewarned and had at her lecture a man who took photos not only of every angle of the audience, but also of everyone who asked a question.

"Towards a Global Ethic"
Apart from the plenaries, symposia (especially also a two?day symposium on "Business 2000"), discussions, lectures, film festival, prayers, entertainments, youth events etc. there were scores of information stands ? dominated by Eastern spirituality. But the actual business of the "Parliament" was to put out 'A Call to Our Guiding Institutions". This Call is based on a document, drafted at the 1993 "Parliament", called "Towards a Global Ethic. " It is supposed to have been signed by nearly 200 people. Again one must ask: Who are they, and by what authority do they act? The author of the "Global Ethic" is the German Catholic theologian Hans Ming. It begins with the words:: "The world is in agony.. Peace eludes us.. the planet is being destroyed.. neighbours live in fear.. women and men are estranged from each other.. children die! This is abhorrent! We condemn the poverty.. the hunger.. the economic disparities that threaten so many families with ruin. We condemn the social disarray of the nations; the disregard for justice... the anarchy.. the hatred in the name of religion. " ?The religions of the world are asked to help. They must provide "what obviously cannot be attained by economic plans, political programs, or legal regulations alone: A change in the inner orientation... the 'hearts' of people, and a conversion from a false path to a new orientation for life... " There needs to be a new global order, says the Professor, but "there can be no new global order without anew global ethic!" Therefore he identified four Commandments, which he claims are being held in common by all religions, namely: 1. You shall not kill, 2. You shall not steal; 3. You shall not lie; 4. You shall not commit sexual immorality. Expanded into "Irrevocable Directives", these four commandments are the basis of a new global ethic for achieving human rights, disarmament, a just social system, a better structured economic order, a solution of the debt crisis, better communication, and better relations between men and women. In fact, he says, there can be "no global peace without global justice~.. Therefore we commit ourselves to a common global ethic... as well as to peace?fostering and earth friendly ways of life. " ? But what are Ethics? Ethics are a system of God?given moral principles, rules of duty, laws of conduct. They are based on the authority of God and of Scripture. And Scripture says: "Thou shalt worship the Lord your God, and him only shall thou serve. " (Matt. 4: 10) Ethics are not only a matter of the human will, as Prof Küng suggests. They will not work if believers and unbelievers alike are promised universal salvation! It is God alone who determines and judges what is right and wrong! The first conflict between God and man was about the authorship of and authority over the worlds ethics! So, devising a new '~global ethic" is a replay of Adam's disastrous claim to moral autonomy. (Gen. 3:5?6) The reason why the world is in turmoil is because evil and sin have increased and because Christian ethics have given way to heathen ethics. How does one get rid of evil? Can Satan cast out Satan? No, there is only one remedy for sin. "It is a faithful saying.. that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. " (I Tim. 1: 15) He bore our sin and guilt. "The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. " (Isa. 53:6) The disastrous social consequences of an inter?faith religion wereforeseen at the very first Parliament of the Worlds Religions in 1893. A group of Presbyterian missionaries warned: "Poverty, barbarity, death and lasciviousness must be the lot of those men and nations that follow after them [deadf9unders of religions]. The horrors of children left to die, women sacrificed to dumb idols, and the sick given over to their own devices are the fruit of the flesh that no heathen ravings can be rid of. Only the gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life, can lend the bequest of Life. Only Christ has Himse4fescaped the shackles of death, and only faith in Him that comes through grace can free men from the oppressions of the spirit of murder, which we must sadly affirm, is the same as your precious spirit ofco?operation, tolerance, and empathy. " ? A missionary who had served in China said: "When I reached Amoy thirty?two years ago, there was a pond in the centre of town known as the 'Babies Pond' , This was the place where unwanted little ones were thrown by their mothers. There were always several bodies of innocents floating on its green and slimy waters and passers?by looked on without surprise. This is what a world without a clear uncompromised Christian gospel leads irrevocably toward."? Allover the world these and other ghastly practices were abandoned only through the Gospel of Christ. William Carey, regarded by many as the Father of the modern missionary movement, campaigned until 1829 against 'Sati', the Hindu practice of burning a widow on her dead husband's funeral pyre. Carey also overcame the Hindu practice of sacrificing babies by placing them near a river mouth to be washed away by the tide. 4)

The "Call to Our Guiding Institutions"
The chief purpose of the 1999 "Parliament of the World's Religions" was, as already said, to issue a "Call to Our Guiding Institutions" This call is an appeal to the worlds governments, religions, economies, education, media, science, international intergovernmental organizations, and organisations of civil society. They are urged to apply the "Global Ethic" to the world's problems, and the first principle is: "Every human being must be treated humanely!'~? But the general "Parliament" had no part in the issuing of the Call. It was the 'Assembly", a body of supposedly 400 persons (their names were not available) who met day after day in the Podium Hall of the Civic Centre. The "Call to our Guiding Institutions" was not put before the plenary for their approval and ratification. The signatories are "not yet" known. The names of the "participant observers from commerce, medicine, government, the media etc. " arc not given. The Assembly was described as "a parliament within a parliament. " ? The "Call to Our Guiding Institutions" had been prepared in conjunction with the 'Millennium Institute " of Arlington, Virginia, whose founder and President is Dr Gerald 0 Barney, a liberal Lutheran, who believes that "Christianity is not a sustainable faith... The Bible, especially the New Testament, is a weak document on the subject of mutually enhancing human?Earth relations.. There is no unequivocal commandment, 'Thou shalt not destroy Earth.' Furthermore, the only biblical guidance on the stewardship of the gift of human fertility is: 'Be fruitful and multiply,'(Gen. 1:28) and such limited and inappropriate guidance on this critical matter is not adequate for a sustainable faith, " 5)

The 'Millennium Institute" seems to be the think tank for the "Parliament of the World's Religions". It devises development strategies for specific countries, e.g. Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, China etc. These are often funded by the United Nations and based on "an improved version of the World Bank's economic model, " 6) According to Dr Barney, one of the worlds most pressing problems is overpopulation. "Today the human family numbers have exceeded six billion," he says. 7four present rate of population growth and resource consumption continues, we are likely to approach and then exceed the limits of the Earth's ability to support us. " ? The Millennium Institute (and the PWR) is sponsored by the World Bank. Therefore it is interesting to hear what the World Bank has to say. It supports the global aim to limit population growth and "to provide opportunities for safe abortion worldwide. This aim has been anchored to innumerable development programmes and has largely become the prerequisite for the granting of credits by the World Bank and the IMF " 7)

The Millennium Institute, then, provided the inspiration for the "Call to our Guiding Institutions " , This document embodies the ideas of "Global 2000 Revisited" and of "The Earth Charter". In the first instance it addresses itself to the Religions, asking them to "revere" and "cherish" the Earth. When Dr Barney speaks of the Earth, it is almost in hushed tones. He does not say the Earth. He says: Earth ? as if she were a person. "Earth is not just our home, " he writes, "we are Earth... We humans are an important part of the consciousness of Earth... We have become co?creators with the Divine Earth?future... Every person must learn to think like Earth, to act like Earth, to be Earth. " This emphasis on Earth explains why there were Wicca and Witches at the PWR_ In their brochures they describe themselves as persons "who practise a life affirming, Earth and nature?oriented religion... " They say: "Wicca is an Earth religion ... about "the life force of nature and the energies of the Earth. " They venerate "the sacredness of the Earth. " So the PWR and the Millennium Institute are calling the Religions to paganism, to worship and serve the creation instead of the Creator. (Rom. 1: 18?32) Furthermore, they also call them to revolutionary activism by asking them for "Gifts of Service" through which to pursue "justice and peace" in the world.

The Call is also directed to Government; to Agriculture, Labour, Industry and Commerce; to Education; to Science and Medicine; to International Intergovernmental Organisations; and to Organizations of Civil Society. The "Parliament" exhorts institutions worldwide to "Justice, peace, and sustainability. " It asks that the First World nations curtail their lifestyles. In true Marxist fashion the nations of the "North " are warned that what they consume will "deplete the resources needed in the South. " ? Basically, the Call is a set of demands for social and political co?operation towards setting up a humanistic New World Order. Since this new order to be based on a purely materialistic world view undergirded by the Theory of Evolution, the Faith traditions arc asked to re?examine their "origin stories" The fundamental truths of the Book of Genesis are deemed incompatible with the sexless, classless, shapeless, and joyless One World which is envisaged. In summary, the "Call to our Guiding Institutions" is a call to absolute liberty, fraternity, and equality; to a renunciation of religion and to the adoption of a man?deifying 'global ethic".

What, then, should we think about the "Parliament of the World's Religions" Perhaps Psalm 2 can express it best: "Why do the nations plan rebellion? W1y do people make their useless plots? Their kings revolt, their rulers plot together against the LORD and against the king he chose. 'Let us free ourselves from their rule,' they say; 'let us throw off their control. 'From his throne in heaven the Lord laughs and mocks their feeble plans. Then he warns them in anger and terrifies them with his fury. 'On Zion, my sacred hill,' he says, I have installed my king.'? I will announce,' says the king, 'what the LORD has declared. He said to me: 'You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask, and I will give you all the nations,' the whole earth will be yours. You will break them with an iron rod,' you will shatter them in pieces like a clay pot.' ? Now listen to this warning, you kings; learn this lesson, you rulers of the world.. Serve the LORD with fear; tremble and bow down to him; or else his anger will be quickly aroused, and you will suddenly die. Happy are all who go to him for protection.

May God bless you richly,
D. Scarborough.

Footnotes:
1. D James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What if Jesus had never been born? 1994, Thomas Nelson Inc., publishers.
2. Ibid,
3. Internet: 1999 Parliament of the World's Religions
4. Life News, 2.12.99: The Parliament of the World Religions, Religious Pluralism and Respect for the Right to Life.
5. Gerald 0 Barney, Threshold 2000, Critical Issues and Spiritual Values for a Global Age, Millennium Institute, Cape Town 1999. Dr Barney also authored the "CdoM2000"Report to the President (Carter) ofthe United States and its fcdlow?up "Globd200ORm3iW* '
6. Millenium Institute, About the Institute, promotional letter.
7. Roland Rössler, member of the parliament of Hessen, Germany,"KU486? Über'Emeregency- Verhütung' und 'Heimabtreibung' zu wirksameren, Bevölkerungskontrollprogrammen," quoting from the World Bank's World Development Report of 1993, p. 106; 30.199
8. Gerald O Barney, ~old 2000, Critical Issues and spiritual Values for a Global Age, pp 97,98,107