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September/October 1999

The Parliament of the World's Religions in Cape Town. Its aim: Multi-religious socialism.

Dear Friends,

From 1-8 December 1999 (up to almost two weeks before Christmas!) the "Parliament of the World's Religions" will assemble in Cape Town at the Technikon in District Six. This Parliament is one of several international interfaith movements which want to solve the global crisis by means of a new global ethic. They want to teach people to think in global terms and work towards a One World order. 1) The Parliament of the World's Religions, therefore, promotes above all "a transformation of consciousness. " The Biblical Jesus Christ, His teachings and His ethics have no place in this. The Cape Town Assembly, say its organisers, will "usher in a glorious new era in the African interfaith movement" and "Promises to be an admirable opportunity for African and global rebirth. " There will be an interfaith pageantry, flags, a gala, an Aids Quilt, the blessing of the ground of District Six etc. - altogether 800 programme items. Eight thousand people are expected to take part in "issues of identity, social justice and spirituality. " 2) Every major and minor religion will be represented, be they magic, occultic, demonic, or humanistic. The Dalai Lama will be the celebrity speaker at the closing meeting. He is revered as the 14th incarnation of an Indian-Tibetan god, the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. He is also a major missionary of Buddhism, promoting a culture of world peace on the basis of a universal religion imbued with Eastern spirituality. 3)

The "Parliament of the World's Religions" was founded in Chicago in 1893 in conjunction with the World Columbian Exposition. It seems to have been dormant for nearly 100 years until, in 1993, it met again and drafted a document called:
"Towards a Global Ethic. " This ethic calls for commitment to non-violence, to a just economic order, to , equal rights etc. and is in line with the utopian vision of socialism. The great aim is to save the planet. - The 1999 Parliament will identify the areas in which the new ethics should be applied: AIDS, education, disarmament, debt relief, etc. It will also produce a document, nl. 'A Call to our Guiding Institutions. " This will be directed to the Media, Education, Government, Business, and Religion. The organisers explain: 'At the 1993 Parliament the Assembly deliberated over a document -Towards a Global Ethic... The 1999 Assembly will be asked to reflect on A Call to Our Guiding Institutions, a Powerful document which brings these directives to bear on the roles and responsibilities of powerful and influential institutions - including religion; government; agriculture; labour; industry and commerce; education, arts and communications media; science and medicine; international intergovernmental organisations, and the organisations of civil society - in the 21st century... " 4)

The Call (its outline is given on internet) is obviously full of good intentions. It is a call for peace, fairness, honesty, love and loyalty. Only, these are not linked to their true source, which is the triune God. It is also a call for Truth and the "Golden Rule," but they, too, are not linked to their author and embodiment who is Jesus Christ. Also, love, joy, peace, and goodness cannot be produced by man. They are gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Call to our Guiding Institutions represents a vain hope, for where there is a confusion of truth and falsehood, as in the joining of many religions, there can be no peace. - The very fact that some people found it necessary to found a Parliament of the World's Religions in order to overcome the world's crises, signifies that the world's secular systems have failed Socialism and communism have proved to be bankrupt. Secular humanism has proved to be inhuman. The establishment of the Parliament is a sip that these systems are seeking for a religious dynamic to revitalise them. By harnessing the worlds religions they think they can put the world right. But the non-Christian religions are religions of WORKS which cannot save. There is only one Saviour and one way, namely the '~gospel of Christ. for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth... " (Rom. 1: 16) To all who want to make the world a better place, God says: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. " (Matt. 6:33; Luke 12:3 1) The peace and justice which men long for are Gods gifts. They cannot be created by the power of man. Truth, righteousness, prosperity and respect for earth and creation... these are things which God gives in abundance to men who honour Him.

The "Council of the Parliament of the World's Religions" (CPWR - as the organising body calls itself) reminds us of another body bearing the same initials, though in a different order. It reminds us of the "World Conference on Religion and Peace" (WCRP) which met in Johannesburg from December 24, 1990. At this "Interfaith Conference on Religion-State Relations" this body, too, issued a Call to our Guiding Institutions. It called on the then future South African government to abrogate the sovereignty of God, forsake the principles of Christ and declare South Africa a secular state. The Government obliged. It became secular - with disastrous consequences of uncontrollable crime, corruption and immorality. Indeed, when dealing with international interfaith movements, we must understand that they are totally hostile to Christianity. 5)

The Devil is the great Deceiver. He comes as an angel of light - in the image of concern, harmony and peace. He brings falsehoods disguised as truth. He wins his battle not so much through combat, but through deceiving and disarming Gods people. He likes to work through the Church. South African and other Christians have often fallen for deception. They have been softened up by forces within the Church - through religion. Many have lost the ability to divide the spirits and have become helpless. Remember, for instance, that the 1990 assembly of the World Conference on Religion and Peace was preceded by the WCC-inspired Rustenburg Conference, and this by the publications of "The Road to Damascus", "Evangelical Witness" and the "Kairos Document". These conferences and documents generated GUILT and SHAME in Christian hearts and a desire for RECONCILIATION, PEACE and ACCEPTANCE by the world Remember also the Assemblies of the World Council of Churches (WCC) which progressively desensitized the whole of Christendom - New Delhi 196 1, Uppsala 1968, Bangkok 1973, Nairobi 1975, Vancouver 1983, Seoul 1990, Canberra 1991 - also Lusaka and Harare. Each one represented one step further away from evangelical Christianity and closer to an acceptance of pagan religions and ethics.

Desmond Tutu, a former Archbishop of Cape Town, a former General Secretary of the SA Council of Churches (SACC), a former officer of the World Council of Churches and a "liberation theologian", was the chief patron of the World Conference on Religion and Peace of SA. The Parliament of the World's Religions, too, enjoys the patronage of the "Church " Rev Charity Majiza, General Secretary of the SA Council of Churches, will take part in its forthcoming assembly. So will Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane (Church of the Province) Archbishops Lawrence Henry and Buti Thlagale (Roman Catholic), Bishop Mvume Dandala (Methodist) and Pastor Ray McCauley (IFCQ and Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane (Zion Christian Church). - Have they not heard of the First Commandment? I am the LORD thy God which have brought thee out.. of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. " - I am a jealous God! " (Exodus 20)

One of the hosts of the Parliament is former Mayor Gordon Oliver, a known New Age enthusiast. "Word has it that the Cape Town mayor is a Buddhist, " wrote the magazine STYLE in November 1989, "and that his visitors are requested to rub the fat tummy of the Buddha statuette in his office in the Civic Centre. " Mr. Oliver also took part in erecting '*ace poles" on Table Mountain, thereby endorsing the absurd notion that "Table Mountain, like Ayers Rock in Australia, has spiritual significance, and is a major planetary focal point for the inbeaming energies of Aquarius and new world consciousness. (Fair Lady, 26.4.89) Is it any wonder that he has invited the Parliament of the World's Religions to Cape Town? New Agers believe that "the crises of our time challenge the world religions to release anew spiritual power, which will help transcend the religious, cultural and national boundaries and create anew consciousness of human community. This power will release a spiritual dynamic which will lead to the resolving of the problems of the world... " This statement was made to the UN and recorded by the Swiss Reformed Theologian, Dr Samuel Leuenberger, who concludes: "This shows the ultimate aims of the New-Age-Movement. a world religion; a world community; a world economic order. The real New Age aim is a system which is fed by a marxist-totalitarian ideology. But this totalitarianism is cloaked in religious-mystical terms. " 6)

Not only Gordon Oliver, but also the Cape Times, vigorously support the Parliament of the World's Religions. For months, the Cape Times has ran a weekly series inspired by the Parliament, called: "One City, many Cultures. " During the coming assembly, from 1-8 December, the Cape Times will issue an 8-page Parliament newsletter daily as a supplement. It obviously regards the Parliament information as vital, wanting it to go into every home and family. But what does it cost? And what about the Parliament's offices in Woodstock, the staff, the hire of halls, the publicity, the flags etc... The Parliament of the World's Religions must be a multi-million Rand enterprise, and the question is: Who sponsors it? Who deems it so important? Who will profit from it? - Dear Christian, watch out. South Africa is being dechristianised!

The 1999 Parliament will be significant for South Africa in that the African delegates hope that it may "open up space in the world for acceptance of African religious culture. " The South African Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah of the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society, Plumstead, desires "rehabilitation... of African traditional religious practices..." 7) Gordon Oliver speaks of "a renaissance of the soul. " He says: "The Parliament also creates an important vehicle for the realisation of President Mbeki's vision of an African Renaissance, a dream of a new Africa... " 8)

From all appearances and comparisons the Parliament of the World's Religions, meeting in Cape Town during the coming Advent season!, will seek to promote '~peace " through socialism disguised by mysticism. Participants will be given an opportunity for activism. They can offer "gifts of service " for the new millennium. - But all these efforts are humanistic. The chief message is: Man can save himself and his planet. - But to whom does the planet belong? "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. " To whom do we belong? "Ye are bought with a price, " says Paul. "Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. " (I Cor. 6:20) - Through the Parliament of the World's Religions MAN is being told that he can be the worlds saviour. - But there is only ONE Saviour given by God, our Lord Jesus Christ. "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) He is "the way, the truth, and the life," and He says: "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) - Why follow Buddha, Allah, Krishna, Zarathustra and all the other dead prophets, when we have a Living Lord, who gives us the power to make this planet a better place, if only we obey His Law, follow His example and walk in His Spirit.

May God bless you richly,
D. Scarborough.

Footnotes:
I - See also: Lutz von Padberg, Die One-World-Perspective des "Kenziliarischen Prozegses. " Der Konziliare Prozess - Utopie und Realität p.239
2. Vukani! News and Views from the Parliament of the World's Religions, October 1999
3. P Beyerhaus and L von Padberg, Der Konziliare Prozess - Utopie und Realität, p. 29.
4. A Taste of the 1999 Parliament of the World's Religions, Cape Town, October 1999
5. Believers in the Future, Proceedings of the National Interfaith Conference on Religion-State Relations. WCRP, 1990. See also the anti-Christian "Declaration
on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief" of the UN, 1981.
6. Dr Samuel Leuenberger, "New Age - eine synkretistische Welttherapie." cf. Eine Welt - Eine Religion? by Beyerhaus L v Padberg, p. 163.
7. Vukani! October 1999
8. Gordon Oliver, A Renaissance of the Soul, Vukani! October 1999