Third Global Civilization World Congress (Web Conference)
Third Global Civilization World Congress (Web Conference)
OPENING SPEECH:
Chairman of the Third Global Civilization World Congress – Zhang Shaohua
Distinguished delegates, guests, and friends
Amidst preparation for this congress, Influenza A(H1N1) broke out worldwide. Within a short time, World Health Organization raised the pandemic alert level to its highest on 11th June 2009. After much deliberation, the preparatory assembly and the relevant authorities decided on 15th June 2009 to change the “Jerusalem Council” into a web conference instead. On hindsight, seeing how the influenza has now spread itself to become a large-scale and global problem, the committee’s decision proves to be both prompt and wise.
Even though the format of the conference has changed, the convening date, theme, and mandate have remained the same. This debacle could prove to be a blessing in disguise, as it allows us to extend the originally 3-day event to 30 days – permitting participants to fully express their views and engage in a lively in-depth discussion via this web conference.
As all of us should know, the theme of this conference is?“promoting the unity of spirituality to achieve inter-religious harmony in a global world,” and the key task “ to discuss and pass “The Proposal of Communication in Spirituality in the Global Age.” The decision for Global Organization for the Advancement of Civilization (OPGC) to use religion as the main theme for this congress is a result of thorough consideration.
21st century got off to a tumultuous start. The inception years of the 21st century was highlighted firstly by September 11, then by wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Today, terrorist activities are prevalent in almost all advanced societies and significant holy sites – with its influence constantly spreading. All the while, it is clear in peoples’ mind that it is religious intolerance that results in this global scale terrorism that we experience. However, many, especially politicians, however, do not agree with that assertion and explains that: “It is not a holy conflict, nor is a holy war. It is people speaking on baseless behalf of religion.”
However, the real question we should be asking is, “why do people fault religion for the conflicts and turmoil in the new century?” And “why do people have differing opinions on the role of religion?” These are the two issues that compel us to sit down to deliberate purposefully.
At this point in time, we discovered a pressing issue that we have little prior knowledge of. Sources of conflicts cannot be attributed to the differences between various religious, or between governments and religions. Neither could be blamed on differing guiding principles of each religions group. It is our religious belief coupled with the modernity of our lifestyle that leaves us in a profound contradiction.
So, what is the lifestyle that we live by and what kind of world do we live in today? The answer is simple: we live by a modern lifestyle provided for by modern technology; and we live in a world that is experiencing rapid globalization. In contrast, religious belief – its teaching, reasoning, rules, etc… still remains as those passed down from thousands of years ago – backdated concepts from the pastoral ages. As a result, when faced with the challenge of a rapidly globalizing world, religions response by trying to globalize their worldview from thousands of years ago. Put in perspective, when religions attempt to globalize, they naturally resort to violence and intimidation tactics because, for thousands of years, religions have came to understood these techniques as a mode of their reasoning – the principle of survival, and the logic of development. And these are the exact reasons why religions have been subjected to criticisms, abuses, and frustrations. Today, religions are faced with two of the toughest questions of the century: first, - how can religions adapt themselves to the modern civilization; second –how can they integrate themselves into the global world. These are not questions particular to any religion, but to all religions alike.
After musing on these two tough questions, there seems to be only three possible plans of actions that religious organization could take:
First, is for religions to search for their own safe heaven and explore in isolation. However, this path is not feasible as the human society is advancing globalization at neck breaking speed –leaving no stones unturned or place unconquered.
Second, is for religions to rely on old techniques of wrestling control from one another and intimidation tactics. However, this path, too, is impractical. Because, in today’s global environment, an initiator or responder of violence would be condemned as the scourge to all others and would, therefore, have no chance of succeeding.
And then, there is the third possible way – and this is also the theme of our conference and the plan of action that we encourage: go along with the contemporary, strengthen inter-religious bonds, and communicate spiritual beliefs. Inevitably, only in this manner can we promote peace in the human society, encourage the renaissance of religions, and enhance believer’s sense of fulfillment.
This global era is also the age that people should come to realize that regardless of religious differences, we all belong to the human society. In the face of this global era, religions teaching principles such as “freedom,” “universal love,” and “equality to all beings,” should learn from the all-encompassing example of globalization and apply their principles universally.
If there is religious unity, then it can bring about the unity of religious believers, which in turn can then bring about unity of the people. This powerful domino effect can eventually result in the unity of all mankind. Aren’t these principles the same virtues and wisdom that religious prophets had tried to preach?
Communication on spiritual beliefs is to communicate on the spiritual level about true beliefs – and not to preach on what one does not believe, or to behave in a manner that what one does not feel. Only through true communication on spiritual beliefs can we understand each other’s religion. And only through true understanding then can we learn each other’s merits. And it is this continual learning and exchanging process that would eventually improve and complete us all. In fact, this learning and exchange process has already been widely preached in different holy books.
All these have made it imperative for OPGC to convene for this world congress with religion as the central topic.
Distinguished delegates, guests, and friends
Due to the rapid changing environment driven on by modern technology, humanity is constantly put through strenuous moral tests. In this morally straining 21st century, religions, instead of diminishing, grow in significance day after day.
If we look deep in our hearts at our much suffered world, I am certain that everyone in the world – our 6 billion men and women are in concerted voice saying: “We, as human beings, should be upgraded!” Not many may understand, but if humans were to be upgraded, major religious would need to be upgraded first.
Again, due to these reasons, it is imperative for OPGC to convene for this world congress with religion as the central topic.
Distinguished delegates, guests, and friends
As the chairman of this congress, I deeply understand that in the effort to strengthen communication and unity, religious groups have already organized numerous meetings that preceded this. However, of those who have read my “ultimate theory of transcendental theory” (As per delegates’ suggestion, this book is attached as a reference for participants in the “conference document exchange area.” Please refer to www.shthink.com . – Zhang Shaohua note), some religious followers commented: “The birth of ‘ultimate theory of transcendental theory’ should represent the new phase that human spiritual beliefs are entering.” Although I deeply understand that this book represents my sole vision – my own thesis, those who have read this congress’ proposal may hold similar view: hoping that this congress can become the watershed between the “old” and “new” religious era of our time.
