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“COME TO THE WATERS”

PRE-PARLIAMENT OF WORLD RELIGIONS GATHERING

October 12, 2008

Right relationship with Water is the foundation to life on our blue planet. 
When we contaminate Water, we contaminate ourselves and all of creation.
When we care for Water, we care for life and its future…

Awareness of Water’s precious presence gives birth to an awakened consciousness of our relationship with all that is Sacred.  

(Sr. Julie Schwab, OP)

Submit a Presentation Proposal for the Conference (extended to September 30th!)

Register For the Conference

Contact Department Chair

Conference Schedule

The Parliament Experience:

The Parliament of the World’s Religions brings together the world’s spiritual and religious communities, their leaders and their practitioners to a gathering where peace, diversity and sustainability are discussed and explored in the context of interreligious understanding and cooperation.  Since 1993, the Parliament has convened in different parts of the world —in North America -- Chicago (1993), in Africa -- Cape Town (1999), in Europe --Barcelona (2004)--and will convene next in December 2009 in Melbourne, Australia.  During the 2009 Parliament, participants will work with others and within their own traditions to craft faithful responses to several issues including global poverty, global warming, environmental degradation and restoration.

For more information see http://www.parliamentofreligions2009.org/home.php.

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Conference Goals:

Come to the Waters as a Pre-Parliament Gathering in Madison October 12, 2008

In joyful anticipation of the international gathering to be held next year in Australia, people of many traditions will share wisdom, teachings, rituals, stories, music, dance, art and other expressions of their spiritualities. This gathering will focus on environmental spiritualities with particular attention given to WATER—its role in our sacred writings, our rituals, our daily lives—and how our traditions can work together to ensure that every creature on earth have access to this precious and essential gift. 

The goals of the October 12, 2008 Come to the Waters in Madison are to:

1.  Deepen our own spiritualities and foster mutual understanding and respect by sharing aspects of our spiritual/faith traditions with others through presentations, dialogue, rituals and celebrations;

2.  Experience how our various spiritual journeys bring us together in a shared relationship with water.

3.  Learn about each other’s spirituality and find a common theme to conserve and care for this sacred resource.

4.  Seek peace, justice & sustainability; and find the common thread in each of our spiritualities for a better world.

5.  Become informed about the Parliament of World Religions to be held next year in Melbourne, Australia and explore ways to assist those who wish to attend.

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Conference Schedule:

(tentative schedule)

11:00  Registration & Brunch

12:00 Gathering/Opening Prayer--composed of prayers, readings, and songs from the various spiritualities and traditions—followed by a plenary address on the water situation in the world today. 

 2:00 Presentations.  Lectures, dialogues, or panel discussions sharing aspects of various traditions and/or searching together for ways to conserve and care for water, sustainability, peace, justice and a better world for all. These sessions are one-hour in length and should include time for discussion with and among the participants. 

2:00 Rituals/Prayers. 30-minute timeslots reserved for those who wish to celebrate a ritual or ceremony from their spirituality or faith tradition in the College Chapel, the outdoor Sacred Space or another space on campus.

5:30 Sustainable Supper. 

The Resource Room will be open all day for the various spiritualities/faith traditions to share information, displaying sacred art or make books and other resources available.

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