World Parliament of Religions - Timeline Event
Time Period
08-01-1893 - 10-01-1893
Description
The World’s Parliament of Religions gathered in 1893 in Chicago under the umbrella of the Columbian Exposition. Organized by Presbyterian minister John Henry Barrows (1847-1902), it was a uniquely pluralistic event, introducing Christians in America to an array of faiths from around the globe.
It is particularly known for shining a spotlight on Asian religions whose speakers gave inspiring explanations of their beliefs -- including Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933) and Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), the first Theravada Buddhist missionary and first Hindu missionary, respectively, to this country.
In his opening address, Rev. Barrows raised this challenge: "Why should not Christians be glad to learn what God has wrought through Buddha and Zoroaster -- through the sage of China, and the prophets of India and the prophet of Islam?"
The parliament is widely considered the foundational building block for inter-religious cooperation in the United States.
It is particularly known for shining a spotlight on Asian religions whose speakers gave inspiring explanations of their beliefs -- including Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933) and Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), the first Theravada Buddhist missionary and first Hindu missionary, respectively, to this country.
In his opening address, Rev. Barrows raised this challenge: "Why should not Christians be glad to learn what God has wrought through Buddha and Zoroaster -- through the sage of China, and the prophets of India and the prophet of Islam?"
The parliament is widely considered the foundational building block for inter-religious cooperation in the United States.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: BuddhistBuddhist: Other ARDA Links
Buddhist: Religious Family Tree
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: Christian Science Family
Christian Science Family: Other ARDA Links
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: Hindu
Hindu: Other ARDA Links
Hindu: Religious Family Tree
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: Islamic
Islamic: Other ARDA Links
Islamic: Religious Family Tree
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: Judaism Family
Judaism Family: Other ARDA Links
Judaism Family: Religious Family Tree
Biographies
Hirsch, EmilPayne, Daniel Alexander
Vivekananda, Swami
Webb, Alexander Russell
Related Dictionary Terms
Interfaith (Dialogue), Theravada Buddhism, ZoroastrianismPhotographs
World Parliament of Religions 1893- Internet Archive- from The World's Parliament of Religions, vol 1 by John Henry Barrows
John Henry Barrows portrait- Hathi Trust- from Le Congres des Religions by G. Bonet-Maury
Vivekananda and Dharmapala at Parliament of Religions- Wikimedia Commons
World Parliament of Religions in session- Hathi Trust- from The World's Parliament of Religions, vol 2 by John Henry Barrows
Book/Journal Source(s)
Smith, Jonathan Z., and William Scott Green (Eds.), 1995. The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco.Tweed, Thomas A. and Stephen Prothero (Eds.), 1999. Asian Religions in America New York: Oxford University Press.
Web Page Contributor
Sandi DolbeeAffliated with: Former Religion and Ethics Editor, The San Diego Union-Tribune
