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The United Religions Initiative (URI) held its fifth annual Global Summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the week of June 25-30, 2000. At first glance it appears that the URI=s Abridge to a universal world faith@ may be going the way of London Bridge.... Afalling down@. What the founder, Rev. William Swing predicted would draw Atens of thousands@ of participants, in actuality saw a turnout of approximately 300 delegates in attendance.

Pomp and pageantry abounded during the festivities surrounding the URI=s historic Charter signing on June 26. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ADrummers from Manipur, India, in their egg yolk-golden robes, beat out a call to assemble. Native Americans, representing the Haudenosaunee, drew the celebrants into a wide circle on the lawn at Carnegie Mellon as sacred sage was burned to attract the spirits during a ritual earth blessing. When it was over, participants from Senegal, Brazil, South Korea, Canada, Pakistan, Israel and other countries strode into a university auditorium, singing >Marching in the Light of God,= for a rousing round of storytelling and testimony.@ The following day the Post-Gazette reported that Athe Music Hall was turned into a celebration of spirit. African drummers and Indian musicians mixed with Muslims, Wiccans, Christians and lay people, singing and clapping in a circle of hope and diversity.@ Undoubtedly, spirits were summoned, but one must wonder Awhich spirits?@

It is questionable whether any of their goals for the week-long conference were actually accomplished. One of their objectives was to bring URI to the forefront of the world=s attention. Most of the conference was closed to the public, however, and media coverage of the event was almost non-existent. Even Pittsburgh papers treated the stories as insignificant, while most major news publications and television stations did not cover the event at all. It had been predicted that the Dali Lama and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, would be present for the Charter signing, but they were not. A promised live Internet Webcast of the ceremony did not take place. Substantial URI contributors and New Age advocates, Neale Donald Walsch (author: Conversations With God), Barbara Marx Hubbard (founder of the World Future Society), and George Soros (billionaire currency speculator) were expected to make appearances, but they did not. Expected electronic greetings from the UN were conspicuously absent, but despite the disappointments URI Aspirits@ were not dampened.

Not to be dissuaded by minor setbacks, URI promoters continue to envision a religious version of the United Nations via an international grassroots organization designed to Aspearhead efforts towards multi-faith peacebuilding@. They voted to accept Cooperation Circles as the foundation of URI membership. Their Charter states AIndividuals, associations or organizations seeking membership in the URI shall create a Cooperation Circle (CC) or join an existing Cooperation Circle.... To provide initial stability and interfaith diversity, Cooperation Circles must have at least seven (7) members who represent at least three (3) different religions, spiritual expressions or indigenous traditions.@

Efforts like the URI can be deceptive. A URI press release touts the organization as an Aextraordinary force for good in the world,@ and invites Apeople of different religions and traditions to >stop killing in the name of God= and start learning to live together.@ It is a Agrowing global community dedicated to promoting enduring daily interfaith cooperation, ending religiously motivated violence and creating cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.@

The problem, however, isn=t in the words that are expressed, but in the meaning behind those words. The URI has been adamant that they are not creating a religion, yet there is a vast discrepancy between their publicly stated agenda, and the camouflaged truth. According to the URI Charter they are united to Arespect the differences among religions.... protect the Earth.... build safe places for conflict resolution.... support freedom of religion and spiritual expression.... awaken to our deepest truths, and to manifest love....@ But what do they really mean?

One clue may be found in Bishop Swing=s 1998 book, The Coming United Religions. On page 63 he states AThe time comes, though, when common language and a common purpose for all religions and spiritual movements must be discerned and agreed upon. Merely respecting and understanding other religions is not enough.@ (Bold added for emphasis)

Section V of the organization=s 1998 Benchmark Draft Charter also clarifies some details of their agenda which were omitted in the current version: AWe believe in the universality and eternity of the Spirit. We believe that all religions derive their wisdom from that ultimate Source. Therefore, the world=s faith traditions share in common wisdom, which can be obscured by differences in religious concepts and practices.@ To further solidify religious Aunity@, they seek to Apropose a compilation of information from sacred writings and oral wisdom.@ Translation: Since we all serve the same God, we can avoid confusion and divisiveness by using a common language, purpose and sacred handbook. Or otherwise stated: a new world religion.

The Global Summit may have been anticlimactic, but the evil force behind this quest for unity is still at work. The next event to watch as a possible tie to the URI will be the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders scheduled for August 28-31 at the United Nations.