Hello Steve,

>SA>The Parliament of the World's Religions "manifesto" I referred to
>SA>in an earlier post was, of course, just something I made up on
>SA>the fly, using the type of language found in manifestoes &
>SA>declarations.

>SA>The actual "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic" issued by the
>SA>Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions can be found
>SA>at... http://www.cpwr.org/resource/ethic.pdf

>LL>Thanks for the url.  I noticed that Hans Kung, who is a Swiss
>LL>theologian and dissident Catholic (not sure if he has been
>LL>excommunicated yet), wrote the original draft.

SA>No worries; you can see the sort of inclusive, "feel good",
anti-Gospel
SA>language in the Declaration, and how it can be used to deal with
"negative",
SA>"separatist", "exclusivist" types, who reject
inclusiveness in favour of
SA>(e.g.) Jesus Christ being the only name through people can be saved, by
SA>unmerited grace through faith (etc).

SA>"We affirm that a common set of core values is found in the teachings
SA>of the religions, and that these form the basis of a global ethic."

SA>"We declare: ..." "We take individual responsibility
..." "We must have
SA>patience and acceptance." "We make a commitment ..."
"We shall not ..."
SA>"We must strive ..." "We must speak ..." "No
new global order without
SA>a new global ethic!" (and so on)

Kung's view of a "new global ethic" is one of individualism.  IOW,
within the confines of four basic principles, one is free to do his
own thing.  This view rejects objective truth in favor of subjective
truth.

SA>If you have worked for a large (and possibly not so large) employer,
SA>you may have undergone a "corporate change" process, which made the
SA>employees appear to be "empowered" to cut through the layers of
SA>bureaucracy, flatter management structure (eliminating layers of
SA>middle management); our people are our most valuable resource etc;
SA>while the managers with the real power get golden parachutes if
SA>they go, or even more power if they stay, and the company outsources
SA>and off-shores its operations & sacks the "valuable resources"
SA>(workers). For those malcontents (like me) who have no interest
SA>in being part of a "new global order" with its "new
global ethic",
SA>there will be the "sword of cleavage" or similar to send us to
SA>a place where we won't get in the way.

There are actually two documents, one document being a basic set of
principles, Kung writing the original draft and passed in 1993, the
other document being for organizations and NGOs, etc., based on the
1993 document, passed in 1999.  I have now read both documents.

>LL>Kung is the fellow who keeps telling folks that he should be the
>LL>New Pope of a New Christianity.  This is what Kung said about the
>LL>election of B16 -

>LL>"An enormous disappointment for all those who hoped for a reformist
>LL>and pastoral pope." - Hans Kung

>LL>Of course, the only "reformist and pastoral" pope Kung would like
>LL>is one who would renounce most, if not all, Catholic dogma and
>LL>doctrine. Meaning himself.  :)

SA>Not necessarily, as the "enormous disappointment" sentence comes in
SA>"The Result of the Papal Election" (by Hans Kung) where he also says:
SA>"But we must wait and see.... " and talks about someone who enters
SA>the conclave may emerge as the opposite ("progressive" or
"conservative")
SA>of what he went in. ( http://www.logosjurnal.com/kung_special.htm )

Kung said some very unsavory things about the late JPII eight years ago,
along with some harsh words for German theologians, Cardinal Ratzinger
in particular.  Now that Ratzinger is pope, Kung is left on the outside
having absolutely no influence in Catholic circles.

SA>Hans Kung in turn happens to be President of the Global Ethic Foundation
SA>( http://www.weltethos.org/dat_enf/index_e.htm ), and played a major
SA>role in the writing of the documents of Vatican II etc.

Ratzinger was a consultant to Vatican II from 1962 to 1965.  Kung was
a very prolific writer, espousing a radical theology, during Vatican II.
However, Kung was not nearly as influential as Ratzinger among the
Cardinals, with most choosing not to listen to a word Kung said.

>LL>Anyway, after reading the "manifesto" I'll post a few comments
>LL>about it.

SA>Thanks, & thanks for connecting the dots to Hans Kung. Interesting times!

Ratzinger's view of Christian unity is "within limits".
Kung's view of Christian unity is an entirely different view.
The same applies to global unity.

--Lee


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