Posted on 12/30/2006 12:39:13 PM PST by Bokababe
More than 40,000 Christian youths from various religious denominations gathered in the Croatian capital of Zagreb on Friday for worship aimed at bringing Christian youngsters from Europe and many world countries closer. The participants, Catholics, Baptists, Protestants, Orthodox and other Christians, will hold prayers in the next five days at the Zagreb Fair grounds and will attend a joint New Year’s party, according to the French-based Taize Community, which is organising the five-day event.
All participants at the gathering have been placed in the homes of their young Croatian peers and many new friendships are expected to be cemented, said representatives from the Taize Community, which preaches cooperation between all religious groups and follows a very modest and simple way of life.
For over thirty years many Croatians have taken part in the meetings in Taize and in those held at the end of each year in a European city, Community’s brother Emile told Croatian media. “They are very excited to be able in their turn to offer a welcome in their own country to young people from throughout Europe,” he said.
In a message to the Taize community's 29th European meeting, Pope Benedict XVI said that such gatherings were a sign of hope for humanity. "In this way, with a renewed attentiveness to others, you will make your contribution to the establishment of more fraternal relationships, so that on the entire planet the human family may become a concrete reality, where each person is welcomed and loved for him or herself, recognised and respected as a child of God," the pontiff wrote.
Greek and Russian Orthodox religious chiefs Patriarch Bartholomew I and Alexis II of Moscow, as well as the head of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and outgoing United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan also sent their best wishes to participants.
Well, Taize is certainly working hard on this. Good for them, because a divided Christianity is always what has enabled the Muslims to walk right in and sit right down.
This is good.
Thanks Smartass:)
happy new year to you too:)
I heartily support ecumenical gatherings and other events that are oriented toward orthodox catholic Christianity, also known as The Great Tradition. These are in line with Jesus' prayer that we should all be one, in the Holy Trinity. However, I do not support liberal-Christian oriented events that are designed to promote watered-down, gaysbian/feminazi or heretical versions of our Christian faith.
Interfaith gatherings are also good if they promote peace and mutual understanding, or care for the poor in our communities. However, if they promote syncretism and the idea that there are "many paths to salvation", or if they provide a forum for islamist subversion (as all too many do), then I am totally against them!!!!
Happy New Year to all!!!! And I am loking forward to my second Christmas/Nativity/Bozic on January 6/7, as I am sure that many of you are doing as well!!
Interfaith involves different religions coming together. Ecumenical would be different kinds of Christians coming together.
Pope Ben XVl is wrong. Each person on the planet is not a child of God.
Each person is a creature; a creation of God, but only those in Christ by grace,
through faith, is a child of God (Ephesians 2:8).
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12,13).
We are only sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Galations 3:26).
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