ONE BISHOP'S MISSION TO STOP RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE

VIENNA, VIRGINIA -- As a part of a week-long gathering of New Thought leaders coming from around the world beginning July 18, 2004, the 89th International New Thought Alliance (INTA) leadership will be honoring Bishop William E. Swing for his groundbreaking work to stop religiously motivated violence. The Congress will be held at the Sheraton Premiere Tysons Corner, Vienna, Virginia from July 18 -23.

Rev. Swing has gained national attention due to his innovative leadership of the drive to establish a United Religions body to promote religious harmony throughout the world through small circle dialogues among diverse populations. Bishop Swing has traveled extensively in China, Japan, Korea, India, the Middle East, and Europe, seeking guidance and commitment from leaders of many of the world's religions, including the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, The Shankaracharya of Kancheepuram, Islam's Grand Mufti in Cairo, and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

These visits have been building support for the concept of a permanent forum where all the world's religions will be represented, a place in which conflicts and disagreements can be discussed and mediated.

The Rt. Rev. William Swing has been the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of California from 1980 to the present, consecrated in 1979. He received his A.B. and D. D. from Kenyon College. He earned his M.Div. and D.D. from Virginia Theological Seminary. He was appointed Curate of St. Matthew's Church in Wheeling, West Virginia 1961-63; Vicar of St. Thomas, Weirton and St. Matthew's, Chester, W. Virginia 1963-69. Elected Rector of St. Columba's Episcopal Church 1969-79. He has extensive leadership in AIDS and social concerns ministry.

"Bishop Swing provides us with a stellar example of what one person, in working to build community, can do to affect change," said Blaine Mays, INTA President.

The International New Thought Alliance is an umbrella organization of New Thought metaphysical churches, including Religious Science (Science of Mind), Unity, Divine Science, Universal Foundation for Better Living, and others. The International New Thought Alliance is an umbrella organization of New Thought metaphysical churches, including Religious Science (Science of Mind), Unity, Divine Science, Universal Foundation for Better Living, and others. INTA has been dedicated to serving the New Thought Movement's various branches, organizations and individuals since 1914. We emphasize the practical implementation of the power of thought and feeling in facilitating the emergence of spiritual enlightenment, wholeness, health and prosperity in every individual.

To learn more about this event or to register, go to www.newthoughtalliance.com or call INTA at: (480) 830-2561.

"I gather you have a problem with trying to bring people together? Do you object to different faiths trying to live together in peace?"

No, I do not have a problem with people meeting. It is the purpose of their meeting which I am objecting to. The Church has taught to TOLERATE different faiths, love them and pray for them, but as Our Lord taught they can never bring peace: "Peace on earth to men of good will." Those who disobey the 1st commandment are not of good will, and therefore cannot bring Christ's peace, or peace, period.

"Do you object to spiritual enlightenment, wholeness, health and prosperity in every individual?"

No, I do not. But why go to a false religion when I can have the fullness of faith in the one, true one? Read your Catechism: it is a sin against the 1st commandment to put one's soul in peril by going to false places of worship or listening to pagan spiritual advice. Do you think Christ revealed truth's to other religions that He did not to His own Church? Witches and occultists practice religion - why exlude them if we are going to be buddy-buddy with every creed? Where do YOU draw the line?

Those who disobey the 1st commandment are not of good will, and therefore cannot bring Christ's peace, or peace, period.

Why can't they? The basic principles of all relgiions are pretty much the same. How does a non-Christian religion violate the First Commandment? But why go to a false religion when I can have the fullness of faith in the one, true one?

And who are you to determine what is a "false" religion and what is a "true" one? Are you one of those people who believes that only a certain kind of religion can contain truth? Do you think Christ revealed truth's to other religions that He did not to His own Church?

I don't believe that Jesus, the Great Wayshower, is an exclusive revealer of Truth. Witches and occultists practice religion - why exlude them if we are going to be buddy-buddy with every creed? Where do YOU draw the line?

I believe that all paths go to God. My God is unversal, not exlcusive. I bless all on their paths. The path that works best for you is the one you should be on.

"I don't believe that Jesus, the Great Wayshower, is an exclusive revealer of Truth."

The "Great Wayshower"? I thought at first I may have been chatting with a dis-enchanted Catholic, but obviously I was wrong. I will direct my commentary accordingly.

"I believe that all paths go to God. My God is unversal, not exlcusive. I bless all on their paths. The path that works best for you is the one you should be on."[sic]

From your statement, am I to conclude "God" is whatever we want (it) to be? If I seek inner enlightenment, this is god; if I worship the earth, this is god; if I am Jewish, I am awaiting the Messiah; Christians await Christ's second coming (Judgement Day); are there any paths that do not lead to "god"?

Do you not see the problem with this belief? Christians, Jews, Muslims, pagans, and others do NOT believe this and according to these religions beliefs it is blasphemy and offensive to their beliefs to make such a suggestion that God is whatever or whoever we want Him/it to be. So you are already opposing peace by creating tension and unrest (Jews of old would have stoned you; Muslims and many pagans would kill you) with such a statement that all paths lead to God.

I think you would at least agree that God is Truth. With this in mind it begs the question, much like Christ did before Pilate: "What is truth?" Is all truth relative or subjective? Are there no absolutes? Can truth contradict itsself? If you truly believe God is universal in the sense you state, try reading the well-known British authors GK Chesterton's "Orthodoxy" or CS Lewis' "Mere Christianity" for two highly-educated and very intelligent discourses on the subject.

"We all worship one God. We just interpret God differently. But however you approach it, God is what's at the end of it."

No, we don't all worship one God. When the Jews worshiped the golden calf, God punished the Jews as described in the Old Testament. St. Paul calls the gods of the nations "devils". Christ said the only way to the Father was through Him. This sounds pretty exclusive to me. I don't think He would claim to be the end of a rock or fire or a cow. Wouldn't He have to be above all things? Pagans don't distinguish between creation and creator, why do many pagans worship material earthly things as gods?

And we don't interpret Him differently, but we can interpret Him falsely. Again, you are leaving God open to one's personal interpretation of who He is if you believe He can be interpreted differently. Can the Truth be interpreted in more than 1 way?

"God is the ultimate Truth. How cn a God that condemns 80 percent or more of Creation to Hell make any sense? I don't think it does. Yet that is Christian doctrine."[sic]

I don't know where you get the 80% figure, and how can a creature without a soul be condemned? At any rate, in Genesis God said creation was good - it is only man with his free will that is able to and does rebel against God by doing evil. God is merciful and just - allowing the unrepentant to go to heaven along with the humble servant would not be just. This makes a mockery of justice and truth. Can you imagine a society that allowed criminals to go unpunished?

"I do not believe that Truth can contradict itself because I don't believe that anything can contradict the One Power."

Christ called Himself God - He is either a liar or He is God. If He is God, He is Truth (if Christ = God and God = Truth, Christ must = Truth) and we must worship accordingly. Muslims claim that "There is but one God, and Allah is (H)is prophet." They deny that Christ is God (Christ does not = Truth). These two faiths are obviously at odds, so how can both be true and be worshiping the same God? You stated that truth cannot contradict, yet only one of these two beliefs can be correct because they contradict. Either Christ is God(Truth) or He is not. There cannot be a Christ who is God and one who is not. Either the Muslim religion is correct or the Christian religion is correct - both cannot be by matter of contradiction.

I hope you will pray and meditate on these matters because you seem to be seeking Truth in sincerity. The author GK Chesterton whom I mentioned previously was an agnostic, so his story in "Orthodoxy" is quite compelling as one who also sought Truth. If you wish to continue this discussion or start a separate question I am willing to continue as well.

No, we don't all worship one God.

So how many Gods are there? If you believe, as I do, that there is only one God, then we all worship the same one, because that's the only one there is.

And we don't interpret Him differently, but we can interpret Him falsely.

You're making other interpretaitons, other aspects, wrong by this statement. You're also implicitly admitting that people do interpret God differently, just insisting that your interpretation is "true" and all others are "false."

Can the Truth be interpreted in more than 1 way?

It happens all the time.

I don't know where you get the 80% figure

Christianity, at least mainstream Chrisitianity, teaches (if I understand it correctly) that only those who follow Christianity are going to Heaven. Since no more than 1/5 (or 20 %) of the world's population is Christian (at least nominally), then at least 80 percent is condemned to Hell. (And we're not even dealing with thosoe who are just nominally Christian.)

and how can a creature without a soul be condemned?

So those who aren't Christian don't have souls?

At any rate, in Genesis God said creation was good - it is only man with his free will that is able to and does rebel against God by doing evil.

This gets to a question I never can get an answer to: Do you believe God is Infinite? I assume, since Christianity teaches it, that you believe God to be Omnipotent and Omniscient. That would imply infiteness. If so, why would God not be Omnipresent also? It seems to me that to argue otherwise is to limit God, put God in a box, which would deny God's Omnipotency.

"There is not spot where God is not."

God is merciful and just - allowing the unrepentant to go to heaven along with the humble servant would not be just.

God's Law works perfectly in whtever way we activate it -- in this world. We do not have to wait for an afterlife for the justice of Divine Law to go to work.

And what if Heaven and Hell are not places, but states of being?

Christ called Himself God - He is either a liar or He is God. If He is God, He is Truth (if Christ = God and God = Truth, Christ must = Truth) and we must worship accordingly. Muslims claim that "There is but one God, and Allah is (H)is prophet." They deny that Christ is God (Christ does not = Truth). These two faiths are obviously at odds, so how can both be true and be worshiping the same God? You stated that truth cannot contradict, yet only one of these two beliefs can be correct because they contradict.

Jesus tells us, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect." He also tells us, "The things that I have done, ye also shall do, and greater than these shall ye do." The Bible tells us "Ye shall be as gods."

Jesus is repeatedly asked if he is the Messiah. He never seems to giev a direct answer. He says things like "That is what they say."

Islam respects Jesus as a great prophet, but they say that there is only one God. I believe Christianity agrees with them on this point.

When Jesus says he is God, he does not seem to mean himself alone. He generally speaks very universally.

Remember that when Moses asks God His name, God answers, "I am that I am." "I Am" is God's name, according to God. (One of many -- I see different term sused to refer to God in the Bible and many more in other sources. The science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke estimated in one story that there are 9 billion names for God.)

Either Christ is God(Truth) or He is not. There cannot be a Christ who is God and one who is not. Either the Muslim religion is correct or the Christian religion is correct - both cannot be by matter of contradiction.

They are different takes on divinity. Each contains truth for its followers.

There is One Spirit, manifest as all the Universe.

If you think of God as a vast, infinite ocean, each of us is a drop of that ocean. We have all the characteristics of the ocean, but do not encompass the ocean. And each of us has a particular take on the vast ocean, as each of us is individual. No two see it just alike.

But like the blind men who met the elephant, we each have our piece of the Truth. Our job here is to expand our awareness of Truth and live it every moment in an expanded way.

"So how many Gods are there? If you believe, as I do, that there is only one God, then we all worship the same one, because that's the only one there is."

I agree, there can be only 1 God. That does not mean we all worship Him, however. Just as I was explaining, pagans, Budhists, etc do not claim to worship that 1 God. They worship objects which are merely God's creation, not God Himself. For example, Native Americans worships everything from buffalo to mountains. Otherwise, why the First Commandment?

"You're also implicitly admitting that people do interpret God differently, just insisting that your interpretation is "true" and all others are "false.""

I am not insisting MY interpretation is true, I was presenting the arguement there can be only 1 true God and that Christ is Him or is not. It's back to the arguement about what Muslims claim (Christ is not God) versus what Christians claim (Christ is God) - only one of these can be correct. Either Muslims or Christians are interpreting Him correctly, but both CANNOT be correct if there is 1 God.

"Since no more than 1/5 (or 20 %) of the world's population is Christian (at least nominally), then at least 80 percent is condemned to Hell."

No one knows this for certain. If God is just, those who do not know they are worshipping falsely should be judged accordingly. I am guessing we won't be condemned for errors made undeliberately.

So those who aren't Christian don't have souls?

Good grief! I was refering to animals, you know, cats, dogs, deer - those creatures that do not have the use of reason. Children and retards don't have the full use of reason, but humanity is distinct and different as any rational person could affirm.

"If so, why would God not be Omnipresent also?"

Yes, God is all knowing, all seeing, and all present. If He were not, He would not be God. I guess I don't understand the question.

"And what if Heaven and Hell are not places, but states of being?"

What do you mean by a state of being? Do you mean like a dream is a different state than consciousness? Another dimension? Please clarify.

"Jesus tells us, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect." He also tells us, "The things that I have done, ye also shall do, and greater than these shall ye do." The Bible tells us "Ye shall be as gods.""

God wants us to be good, just as a parent wants good children. The parent of a upright person is not happy for themselves, but happy for the child because of their righteousness. So God calls us to be perfect so we will be with Him for eternity. The last 2 quotes you will have to site so I can read them in their context.

"Jesus is repeatedly asked if he is the Messiah. He never seems to giev a direct answer. He says things like "That is what they say.""

Why did the Pharisees want Him dead? If you read about the trial of Christ before them, they call Him a blasphemer for claiming He is the Messiah. That is why they insisted He be crucified. Why did Pilate put "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" above Him on the cross? He said the pharisees were turning HIS house (the temple) into a den of theives. Why did the pharisees mock Him saying "He saves others but He cannot save Himself? If you are the Messiah, come down from the cross?" There are dozens of Scriptural quotes that deal with this, along with Christ telling His apostles, "I am, who am", "I am the bread of life".

"Islam respects Jesus as a great prophet, but they say that there is only one God. I believe Christianity agrees with them on this point."

Again, Islam and Christianity do NOT agree on this point. Islam respects Him but not as God, whereas Christianity says He IS God. If one held a sign saying "Christ is God" in a Saudi Arabian street they would be killed on the spot for blasphemy. Yet one MUST accept this to be a Christian.

"When Jesus says he is God, he does not seem to mean himself alone. He generally speaks very universally."

He does not speak universally, but He is very specific that He is God and the only way to heaven. "The only way to the Father is through the Son." Christ also says "He who does not eat My flesh and drink My cannot have (eternal) life." Then asked the apostles if they, too, were going to leave. St. Peter said "Where else can we get eternal life?" and they followed Him.

If He says He is the Good Shepherd and goes after His lost sheep, why would they be lost if everyone worships the same God?

"One of many -- I see different terms used to refer to God in the Bible and many more in other sources. The science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke estimated in one story that there are 9 billion names for God."

Arthur C. Clark was never known for being devout, and you said this came from one of his "stories", so I can't put much credence in his opinions. It is true, however, there have been different names used. As a matter of fact, the Jews never called God by His proper name as a sign of respect. It also has to do with translations, pagan gods, etc.

"There is One Spirit, manifest as all the Universe."

Rather, there is one God, manifest as Christ. Again, please don't confuse God's creation with Him. The universe is a manifestation of some of what He created.

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