Reverend Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith argues that modern technology has made the world small enough that we need interfaith understanding. He says different religions name the same divine presence differently, and recognizing this shared core can bring personal peace and build a kinder world.
Anya? So here we are at the Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne! Melbourne! Melbourne! So good! Melbourne! And I'm standing here with Reverend Dr. Michael Bernard Bethwith. And so I just wanted to ask you a question or two, Michael, if you could. Absolutely. So tell me, why do you think this day of interfaith understanding is especially important, maybe more important than ever before? Even for folks in a little town like Kansas or Los Angeles, California, why does it make a difference?
Well, you know, the world is so small now. Technology has made of the world, you know, like a neighborhood. And religion, we've probably understood, to move past the kind of just about society. When individuals begin to learn that at the core of all religions there are some fundamental principles that we both teach, there are some radical perspectives that we need to buy into, when we can begin to live at that level, then we're not only cultivating a level of peace for ourselves, but we develop the possibility developing a kind and just world society. People have a tendency to constantly see the differences between their religious points of view. But at the core of all religions, we understand that they're just different names of God that people are calling this wonderful presence. And so who cares whether you call God one way and someone calls God another way? At bottom, if you really practice what our religion says we have to practice, we become better people. As we become better people, we develop a better world. So it's important on a regular basis to love and appreciate all the problems you're going through.
Thank you, sir.
It's my joy. I love you guys out there at Overland Park.
