The Dawn of Religious Pluralism: Voices from the World's Parliament of Religions, 1893

Introduction

• xiii Sept 1893 in Chicago--biggest convention of religion to date
• xiv "coming unity of mankind" concealed gradual universalization of Christianity 
• so...pluralism? or dawning a new era of unity and universalism?
• xv next Parliament called for Banaras, India, but never happened (lost momentum)
• 15 at time of Parliament, "10 great religions" were: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainsim, Zoroastrainism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• various sects among those too: protestant, catholic, greek orthodox, women, etc.
• religious leaders, political leaders, ambassadors, businessmen, scholars, priests, reformers
• Parliament gathered around Catholics
• Chicago Tribune published on Sept 12 (the day after): people from "the four corners of the world had come together to forward the cause of humanity here and hereafter" and demonstrate by their presence "the vital power of that universal spirit that drive men everywhere to look upwards at a star"

"A Voice from Syria" Chistophore Jihara (Orthodox Christian)

• 199 gospels and Koran "which are really one", can be reconciled--by which Christians and Mohmmedans can be reconciled
• the world will then come into unity and all differences will fade away
• "all human kind will become brethren in worshipping the true God and following Christ"
• "I hope the time will come when these two great peoples, Christian and Mohammedan, the greatest, the strongest, the brightest, and the richest among all the nations of the earth, may unite in one faith, serving God"
• from the 3rd century til now, Christianity has misinterpreted the Gospels--heresies 
• 200 "by the Koran we can understand the Gospel better, and wihtout the Koran it is impossible to understand it correctly. It is for that I believe that God has preserved the Koran and also preserved Islam, because it has come to correct the doctrines and dogmas of the Christians . There is no difference in the books themselves--the Gospel and the Koran. It is only in the understanding of people in their reading of the Bible and the Gospels and the Koran."

Part VII: Three Views of Islam

Introduction

• 247 Islam was underrepresented, and grouped with Judaism and Christianity into western monotheistic tradition

Chapter 26: "Some Teaching of the Koran," J. Sanna Abu Naddara

• 249 "the koran is tolerant, human, and moral"
• portraying Islam as friend to slaves, to knowledge--equalizing (comp. to Hinduism's castes)
• portrays Islam as pro-monogamy ""happy and fortunate is the man who has only one wife, pious and virutous""
• 250 the Prophet loved and honored/respected women

Chapter 28: "The Spirit of Islam" Mohammed (Alexander Russell) Webb

• 273 compare Muslim spain of 6th century, Christian Europe which learned from spain
• 274 "the Emir, who leads in prayer, preaches no sermon"
• protrays Islam as non-authoritarian--"perfect brotherhood"
• all Muslims recognize the "inspiration of Jesus"
• 5 times daily prayer is essential element of Islam
• 275 hilights diversity of opinion on prayer and other topics within Islam
• 277 "Caste lines are broken down entirely"
• [brotherhood] "exists among the Mussulmans of India"
• anecdote: old man in bombay who lost it all and was supported by Muslim brethren
• more Bombay anecdotes: the poor man who entered the rich house at dinner and ate
• 278 Islam is very misrepresented

Chapter 40: "The Work of Social Reform in India" B. B. Nagarkar (hindu)

• 
  
• 340 on Nagarkar: 
• India greeted with most enthusiasm of all delegations at Parliament (Daily Inter Ocean 18 Sept 1893)

To look up: Mughal Emperor Akbar of 16th century, International Association for Religious Freedom, Sultan Abdul Hamid II (expressed little interest in the parlaiment, potentially resulting in low representation of Islam), biography of Mohammed Webb/Alexander Russell