The wisdom of Bishop William Swing and other United
Religions leaders
By Lee Penn
Summary:
Robert Muller, a strong supporter of the United Religions Initiative (URI), praises
Bishop Swing as a great sage, a peer of Plato and Aristotle. Therefore, I provide 70
quotes from the Bishop for 1994 to 1999. Because sages attract wise and talented
followers, I also offer quotes from the Rev. Charles Gibbs, the Executive Director of the
URI, and from the Rev. William Rankin, Vice President of the URI.
Conditions of use:
This story is an extract from a book-length manuscript by me titled "False Dawn,
Real Darkness: the Millennial Delusions of the United Religions and the New Age
Movement." You may re-distribute this story by hard copy or electronically, and you
may abridge or quote from this story - IF you give credit to Lee Penn as the author, and
IF you include - in the body or as a footnote - the following statement:
"An abridged version of this information is appearing in the series of articles
"The United Religions Initiative: Foundations for a World Religion" (Part 1 and
Part 2). The first article was published in the spring of 1999, and the second part is
being published in the fall of 1999 by the Journal of the Spiritual Counterfeits Project.
You may order the complete stories from the Journal, or subscribe to the Journal, by
calling (510) 540-0300, or by writing to the Spiritual Counterfeits Project, Post Office
Box 4308, Berkeley, CA 94704, or by visiting the SCP web site,
http://www.scp-inc.org/."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greatness and wisdom deserve recognition. According to Robert Muller, a former
assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and a fervent supporter of the United
Religions Initiative (URI), we have a sage among us now - Episcopal Bishop William Swing
of San Francisco, the founder of the URI. Muller says that when humanity looks back from
2013 to the present, they will see that Bishop Swing is a peer of Plato, Aristotle, and
Maimonides. Describing his vision of the future, Muller writes:
"Humanity is now a united world community of nations, not only economic and
political, but also spiritual, following the path opened in the last century by Dag
Hammarskjöld and U Thant in the United Nations, by Robert Schuman in Europe, and also
throughout the millennia by prophets and founders of religions, and by great sages such as
Plato, Aristotle, Maimonides, Huxley, Albert Schweitzer, Teilhard de Chardin, Thomas
Berry, Bishop William Swing and others." (1)
-----------
To ensure that Bishop Swing's wisdom receives due honor, here are quotations from his
speeches, interviews, and writings, arranged in chronological order.
1994
At Matthew Fox's October, 1994 "Rave Mass," Bishop Swing said, " 'the
Mass reminds him 'of an experience I had as a 9-year old boy in West Virginia, coming to a
sense of God through Nature. That gets so layered over by generations of study and
theology, but this Mass leads one back toward that great awe.' Swing, who has been bobbing
to the techno-music, says it's 'so nice to see the church with a new song and a new
language'."(2) On the same occasion, Swing added, "The whole business of having
the Eucharist in the context of Nature, and the planets, and the unfolding of life is a
context that has to happen. This is probably around the time of the genesis of liturgies
like this, and I'm sure that there will be more and more. It's coming ... So we brought a
lot of people in their twenties and thirties who don't go to church, and they were struck
by this. I love it. I think we're on our way."(3)
1995
At the 1995 interfaith service that launched the URI, "holy water from the Ganges,
the Amazon, the Red Sea, the River Jordan, and other sacred streams" (4) was mixed in
a single "bowl of unity" on the altar of Grace Cathedral.(5) During the service,
Bishop Swing made the meaning of the ritual clear. The San Francisco Chronicle reported:
"'As these sacred waters find confluence here,' said Episcopal Bishop William Swing,
'may the city that chartered the nations of the world bring together the religions of the
world'."(6)
The world is moving toward "unity in terms of global economy, global media, global
ecological system. What is missing is a global soul."(7)
1996
"I think that as we become one global unit, we have to find out where religion is
in regard to our global tribe."(8)
"The nature of the United Religions would be to focus on: 1) the whole human
family; 2) the whole health of our planet; and 3) the whole realm of living species, and
to offer the unique gifts of religions." (9)
"It would not be in the interest of the whole earth for a United Religions to
become a political debating society with a right-wing or left-wing bias."(10)
"The creation of a United Religions" would "set the world's hope ablaze
to imagine a religious, global sensitivity to all life instead of despairing over the
present fragmentation that exists among guardians of the world's soul." (11)
The world needs a United Religions "because some day, the ascendancy of militant
fundamentalist voices of politically aspiring religions might be so pervasive that a
United Religions will need to be created in order to save religions from their ethnic,
tribal agendas."(12)
"The religions of the world should aspire to be as moral as the nations of the
world and meet regularly to strive for global good."(13)
The world's youth "walk around trying to piece enough religion together to make
decisions about the future. They add a little yoga to the words of The Prophet. A little
Catechism to a little Dharma. They will find their way eventually because humanity has
always stretched to find its soul in new and foreign settings. One way or another, in
Bangalore or in your grandchild, a United Religions will happen." (14)
"Now the world is drowning in people. You can see it plainly. Pakistan is only the
size of Texas, and yet it is the 8th most populated country in the world. ... All through
the middle of the earth, we are drowning in people. Ironically, the water shortage will
tell us when the flood has begun. The great miracle of birth is, by sheer magnitude of
numbers, reversing the Noah story."(15)
"I marvel that I am standing here talking about something that has never happened
in the world and almost everyone who has had access to my ears has told me will never
happen. ... Today indeed is a special moment. Credulity trembles. And delirious hope gasps
for a first breath. An entire new life for the world beckons us to step ahead."(16)
"We want to enlist your imagination to become pioneers on a spiritual quest to
serve all of God's creation beginning with religions and ending with religions. ... To
attempt to expand the thinking patterns of religions is a daunting task of highest
challenge. ... Today is the first day of a long march toward coalition binding around the
vision."(17)
"The quickest recognition for the creation of a United Religions came from
ambassadors and diplomats. Also politicians, economists, scientists (especially
ecologists) were most supportive. ... The most basic issue is whether or not a religion
believes that the world holds together in an ultimate unity. ... The sooner we can get
religions to come together to serve the common good, the sooner global issues will have a
chance for solution."(18)
"There is not going to be a time in the near future when one religion converts,
conquers, subjugates all of the other religions to itself."(19)
"When the fundamentalists join the family of the world, they will bring great
gifts ... They are not the enemy."(20)
Bishop Swing describes Hans Küng, a dissident Catholic theologian, as "the prime
spokesperson for Vatican II and the single most important person who has written volumes
on interfaith and ecumenical matters."(21)
"I do believe that one can get to God by many ways. Nevertheless, when one gets to
God, I believe that nothing about the Divine is contradicted by Jesus Christ."(22)
"We don't bring Christ to the world; Christ created the world. We [Christians]
come with a community and a vocabulary."(23)
"We're talking about salvation history here. If I'm wrong, I'm dead
wrong."(24)
"I can see the year 2000 coming with soulful urgency, the world on the verge of
the first global civilization, spiritual refugees wandering the earth seeking a symbol of
hope. I do believe that at the bottom of religions there is a treasure chest of hope which
the world yearns for. ... I can see the day of a United Religions."(25)
"For the sake of all the children of the world we are going to learn a new way for
religions to interact. Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians - all - all of us will
learn to live beside each other. Everyone will be invited to bring their best, richest,
deepest stories to the common ground. And there we will build."(26)
1997
"The participants must include those who align with modern spiritual movements,
which unlike the traditional world religions include women. The contributors should also
include the growing group of those who claim that they are 'not religious but are
spiritual,' said Swing. Agnostics would also be a viable addition for the People of the
United Religions Initiative. In a diverse climate, with the inconsistencies, the blood
thirstiness and the concern for control, it is no wonder that there are 'earnest
agnostics,' said Swing."(27)
"If you go with the great religions, you have men only. If you go with modern
spiritual movements, you have women as well." (28)
"Swing: 'Maybe we have to take a deeper look at theology. I think that religions
are based on assumptions of truth being mediated from the creator to the created. These
truths are divinely inspired and sacred for the people who hold them. I think all the
religions of the world have a blind spot. If there's a United Religions pursuing a
dialogue in depth, it begins to ask larger questions and force religions to make larger
statements.' Interviewer: 'Isn't a lot of the problem that many sacred scriptures are full
of violent, exclusionary rhetoric?' Swing: 'That's right. And it's taught all week long,
every place we go. The religions have to go back and read that one more time and ask if
that is really what they believe. If you're sitting there with people from other religions
at the table, you might come up with other conclusions'."(29)
"I've been working with people, religious leaders around the world, and a lot of
them have cautioned me to stay away from prayer and theology. When we get to Stanford, I
doubt if we're going to spend a lot of time talking about theology or prayer. I think
we're going to be hunting for common values that spring from theology, but not the
theology itself. Because I don't think we'll ever agree on the theology." (30)
"We don't need to spend hundreds of millions of dollars for new buildings. San
Francisco still might be a 'symbolic place to put a letterhead and office."(31)
United Religions would be "a deep new source of hope and healing for people and
the earth itself."(32)
"If you have come here because a spirit of colossal energy is being born in the
loins of earth, then come here and be a midwife. Assist, in awe, at the birth of new
hope."(33)
"What if we said 'We will investigate the foundation of the religions and live
into a growing religious dialogue. We will pursue this dialogue until we have lived into a
new peace among religions. We will so pursue peace among religions until we have
discovered a new peace among nations."(34)
"A United Religions could offer the world a powerful new vision of hope - the
vision that the deepest stories we know can now cease to be causes of separation between
people, and become instead the foundation for a reunited humanity."(35)
At the 1997 diocesan convention, Bishop Swing likened "the insane expansion of
population" to exponential growth of algae in a lake. (36)
"I intend to keep thinking globally and acting locally. Now my diocese is Pinole
and Padua. Kyoto and Concord. Oxford and Ohlhoff House."(37)
1998
Swing described the awareness that the diocesan China Friendship Committee wishes to
foster among local parishioners: "The Diocese of California has a small China
Friendship Committee which hopes to expand awareness in our congregations of religions in
China. Such topics as: Christianity that is expanding too fast...Chinese Catholic vs.
Roman Catholic...Southern Baptist's [sic] secret missionary plot...five official
religions...Rule of Law granting religious freedom...Islamic breakaway efforts...Tibet
politics and religion...post-denominational Christianity...rise of Christian
fundamentalism."(38) [All ellipses are in the original text.]
"The question is can we stand the generosity of God in that he reveals himself to
other people in the world through other symbols and through other stories?" (39)
"We are embarked on a mission to do something unprecedented in human
history."(40)
Bishop Swing said that "ninety-nine percent" of URI funding "is raised
from private, non religious sources," and "additional support sometimes has come
from surprising places."(41)
Swing: "I can respect a Hindu as a Hindu worships, but I don't worship what the
Hindu worships." Interviewer: "So then do you attempt to convert the
Hindu?" Swing: "I think we have got to take a look at proselytizing. Is God best
served by proselytizing the way we do it now through all kinds of questionable means, as
well as good means, or whether there are other ways of proselytizing."(42)
"When He [God] gets to the whole business of thou shall have no other gods but me,
what do we do with that? I think there is a truth about that which has to be lived at a
new level. ... And the issues around exclusivity are some of the issues that we are going
to have to come to a new understanding about in a new day."(43)
"There is going to come a time when the world is just going to insist that
religions grow up and begin to talk to each other for the sake of global good and global
harmony."(44)
"Religions need a United Religions. Bombs are exploding in the name of God in
cities throughout the world, religious persecution is more prevalent now than ever before,
religious extremists are demanding and obtaining nuclear weapons, and still there is no
neutral arena where all of the religions can engage each other."(45)
"There is just enough help from non-religious resources: Case Western School of
Management in Cleveland, Ohio; Dee Hock, founder of the VISA Card; the Presidio Trust in
San Francisco, where the URI office is located; plus individuals from around the world who
produce 99.4% of all contributions that URI receives."(46)
United Religions will be inevitable "when the world has run out of options; when
it is clear that the missing ingredient in authentic diplomacy is religion. ... The only
reason there would ever be a United Religions is that the stark world demands it. The time
of that demand is getting close."(47)
"What is a bigger terrorist threat than religion in the world today? There is
none."(48)
Bishop Swing's 1998 book, "The Coming United Religions"
The URI "now has strong backing from the religious, philanthropic, cultural, and
private sectors of the San Francisco Bay Area."(49)
Bishop Swing quotes from his own translation of the Vatican II document Declaration on
the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate) to support the URI:
"The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions, (and)
has high regard for their conduct and way of life for those precepts and doctrines which,
although differing on many points from that (which) the Church believes and propounds,
often reflect a ray of that truth that enlightens all men."(50) Bishop Swing did not
quote the very next sentence from Nostra Aetate: "Yet she [the Church] proclaims and
is in duty bound to proclaim without fail, Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life
(Jn. 1:6). In him, in whom God reconciled all things to himself (2 Cor. 5:18-19), men find
the fulness of their religious life."(51)
"If there is to be a United Religions, the original impetus and expertise will
have to come from fields other than religion. Left to their own devices, religions will
not meet each other. But given outside assistance from multiple disciplines which are
already functioning on a global basis and have learned to work around and beyond existing
roadblocks, religions can move toward common ground."(52)
"Originally I thought that the impetus for the coming together of religions would
be finding a common moral voice and taking mutual action - without getting into the areas
associated with spirituality: meditation, contemplative prayer, sacred writings, end-time
hopes, wisdom, etc. But I no longer think that. If there is ever going to be a United
Religions it will only happen because the Ultimate Ground of Being wills it. ... A United
Religions will either have a distinct spiritual momentum far beyond its own cleverness or
it simply will not be."(53)
To call forth our courage and imagination on behalf of the URI, Bishop Swing quotes
from the prologue of Goethe's Faust: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin
it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."(54)
Bishop Swing sees Hans Küng's document, "Toward a Global Ethic," as a basis
for a new ethic that will be sponsored by "all religions and spiritual
movements."(55) This ethic will be defined after the United Religions is launched,
because, as Bishop Swing says, "If a universal Declaration of a Global Ethos is
brought forth without the underpinnings of an enduring global institution, it will lack
gravity and binding power. A Declaration is derivative. Its creation and its continuance
must rest on an abiding, global institution and on global acceptance."(56)
Bishop Swing identifies Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the religions that include
the Ten Commandments in their tradition, as "exclusive religions."(57) These are
the religions that bid their followers: " 'Thou shalt have no other gods but me.' Is
any dimension of religion deeper than that? This is the first commandment according to
Jews and Christians. It is not foreign to Muslims, or, in fact, to more than half the
people on earth. Yet if billions of people from exclusive religions are commanded to
oppose the godly claims of other exclusive religions, what hope is there for peace among
religions? In order for a United Religions to come about and for religions to pursue peace
among each other, there will have to be a godly cease-fire, a temporary truce where the
absolute exclusive claims of each will be honored but an agreed upon neutrality will be
exercised in terms of proselytizing, condemning, murdering, or dominating. These will not
be tolerated in the United Religions zone."(58)
When Bishop Swing preached the United Religions message to a Bible study class at the
Maramon, a week-long revival meeting of the Mar Toma Church in Southern India: "In an
instant, the little Bible study turned into a wild scene of interrogative and declarative
assertions. Hundreds of energized people with Bibles in their hands came hurrying out of
the jungle. They had come together at the Maramon in order to excite a passion to go out
and convert every Hindu and Moslem possible. And here I was stating that the religions,
themselves, need to come together and discover a new level of interacting. This, clearly,
was perceived to be a threat to proselytizing."(59)
In Bishop Swing's illustration of the nature of religion, six lines represent the major
faiths - Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and the indigenous religions;
like multiple paths up a mountain, these lines converge from below on a single point, a
divine "unity which transcends the world."(60) At the top of the mountain are
the esoteric believers from each faith; they: "intuit that they were ultimately in
unity with people of other religions because all come together at the apex, in the Divine.
Everyone below the line would be identified as exoteric. These people in all religions
would wed the form of faith to the content or final truth of their own faith. Thus the
forms of one's faith become absolutized because these forms, alone, are held to carry the
truth."(61)
"In the same way that the United Nations is not a nation, the United Religions
would not be a religion."(62)
"In the United Religions: a) Silent respect would be rendered to every religion as
each pursues its sacred path. b) That Which Binds Us Is Beyond Us. As each religion
renders silent respect to other religions, the rising mutual sympathy will lead to the
discovery of a unifying mystery. c) That Which Is Beyond Us Will Bind Us. The unifying
mystery that will be discovered will persuade religions of an ever-increasing kinship with
each other and with all life."(63)
"The 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."(64)
"The United Religions will not be a rejection of ancient religion but will be
found buried in the depths of these religions."(65)
The URI "seeks to honor the ancient and recent wisdom and good works of
each"(66) of the world's religions.
"Will the population problems of this earth ever be solved without the best
wisdom, strength, and actions of religions working together?"(67)
"What the world fails to deal with is the unmitigated prejudice against people of
religions. There is no such word as religionism, yet the reality is overwhelming beyond
all measure. The existence of a United Religions will be a symbol that stands in direct
opposition to the ancient, corrosive, and widespread hatred against religions that
thrives, unchecked by religions. This global denial will end when the United Religions
begins. Not only will the United Religions be a symbol of hope, it will also be a symbol
that religionism exists and will be countered."(68)
1999
Bishop Swing told the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco in May 1999 that the three
principles agreed upon by the founders of the URI in 1996 were: "1. we will be a
grass roots movement; 2. it has to be men and women together; 3. invite religions and
spiritual movements together - right from the beginning."(69) "Asked how the URI
would handle cults, Bishop Swing answered that the United Religions would probably look a
little like Alcoholics Anonymous" 'very diffuse.' He added that 'In United Religions,
if you can abide by the purpose and principle, then you can get together. Once you open
the door, you have to keep it open.' " (70)
"We want to make sure that Jerusalem is seen in the largest context - not only as
a major center for three religions, but also as a force in the global interfaith
conversation that is emerging." (71)
----------
Great men attract talented followers; their works also deserve recognition. Here,
therefore, are some quotations from the Rev. Charles Gibbs, Executive Director of the URI,
and from the Rev. William Rankin, Vice President of the URI.
Fr. Charles Gibbs
1997
"There is increasingly a realization all around the world, not only among
religious leaders but among politicians and scientists and business leaders, that if there
is not a firm foundation in values, that if there isn't a deep spirituality that informs
the choices we make and how we move into a global civilization, our time on earth may well
be limited. We can't afford to continue to live the way we have been. All over you hear a
call for religion and for deep spiritual values to join this dialogue."(72)
When asked, "Is the United Religions intended to be a political movement? Will it
be working with political leaders to help resolve conflict?," Gibbs replied, "I
can't see how it would not be. ... Ideally, a well-established United Religions and the
values it would embody would have a powerful impact on the work politicians do."(73)
Gibbs said that "indigenous religions" would be included in the URI "the
same way everyone else would be involved. ... I was just in Oxford and we were talking
about indigenous religions. Well, the indigenous religion there is the Druid
faith."(74)
"If your sense of orthodoxy as a Christian, for example, is grounded in the belief
that Christianity is the one and only path to salvation, you have to come to terms with
that. ... If the work of United Religions for a long time gets entangled in doctrine,
dogma, and theology, we might as well forget it."(75)
At the 1996 summit conference, Richard Barrett, from the World Bank, said, "It is
important for the religions of the world to unite in order to have a unified voice of
values which can be taken to the negotiating table in the major international
organizations we have."(76) Fr. Gibbs reported that one of Barrett's requests was
fulfilled at a May, 1997 URI conference in New York City; participants decided "to
plan a gathering at the UN to explore the role the UR might have in advising and
supporting global organizations such as the World Bank and the IMF [International Monetary
Fund]."(77) Gibbs said that conference participants also made plans to "support
sacred earth values in a variety of ways."(78)
1998
Gibbs describes the proposed United Religions as "an inclusive, decentralized
organization, a spiritual partner of the United Nations."(79)
1999
"I must acknowledge that, throughout the centuries, in seeking to love God and
express the unity that is in God, many Christians have not honored the distinctness and
validity of other religions, but have sought to make the whole world Christian. I confess
that a tremendous amount of violence has been visited on the world by Christians aflame
with the conviction that the only path to salvation is through proclaiming that Jesus
Christ is Lord and Savior of all, and that it is the responsibility of Christians to make
Christians of all people. I profoundly regret that violence."(80)
----------
William Rankin
1995
Regarding the ecclesiastical trial of Episcopal Bishop Walter Righter for ordaining an
openly homosexual deacon, Rankin said, "Heresy implies orthodoxy, and we have no such
thing in the Episcopal Church." (81)
1998
There have been "over 250 wars in this century, with nearly 110 millions killed as
a result. ... Religious differences have caused or aggravated much of this."(82)
1999
"J. M. Yinger defines religion as 'a system of beliefs and practices by means of
which a group of people struggles with ultimate problems of human life. It expresses their
refusal to capitulate to death, to give up in the face of frustration, to allow hostility
to tear apart their human aspirations.' So far, so good."(83)
"In North Sudan the government, in some measure, is forced into strong Muslim
identity by the history of overthrows when a more tolerant attitude was
promulgated."(84)
"The United Religions Initiative exists to bring people together from all the
religions of the world, to create a world where no one has to die because of God, or for
God, any more."(85)
-----------
With such leadership, how can the United Religions Initiative fail to achieve its
goals?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes:
NOTE: Internet document citations are based on research done between September 1997 and
August 1999. Web citations are accurate as of the time the Web page was printed, but some
documents may have been moved to a different Web site since then, or they may have been
removed entirely from the Web.
1 Robert Muller, 2000 Ideas And Dreams For A Better World, Internet document,
http://www.lsw.org/rm/v3adnl.htm#Messagetothe50thAnniversary - "PART IV THE
FOURTEENTH ONE HUNDRED IDEA (IDEAS 1301 TO 1400) INTRODUCTION - The State of the World on
Earth Day 2013 - Part I: World Situation and Inter-religious Co-operation in 2013, twenty
years after the Second World's Parliament of Religions in 1993." (Citation verified
9/21/99)
2 Richard Scheinin and Matthew Fox, "Reinventing Ritual: The Planetary Mass,"
Creation Spirituality, Spring 1995, Vol. XI, no. 1, p. 28 (Richard Scheinin,
"Multimedia imagery Techno-ambiant [sic] music It's the Planetary Mass")
3 Richard Scheinin and Matthew Fox, "Reinventing Ritual: The Planetary Mass,"
Creation Spirituality, Spring 1995, Vol. XI, no. 1, p. 30 ("Reactions")
4 Don Lattin, "Religions of World Celebrated With Prayers to Dozen Deities,"
San Francisco Chronicle, June 26, 1995, p. A1, front page section
5 Richard Scheinin, "Interfaith ceremony promotes world peace," San Jose
Mercury News, June 26, 1995; Internet document, p. 2
6 Don Lattin, "Religions of World Celebrated With Prayers to Dozen Deities,"
San Francisco Chronicle, June 26, 1995, pp. A1 and A11, front page section
7 Bishop William Swing, "What is missing is a global soul," Pacific Church
News, August/September 1995, p. 5
8 Richard Scheinin, "Bringing Together the 'United Religions': Episcopal Bishop
Begins Tour to Build Support," San Jose Mercury News, page 11E, February 3, 1996, (p.
3 of Internet printout), ellipses are in the original text
9 Bishop William Swing, "The United Religions Initiative," document issued in
April 1996 by the URI; p. 1
10 Bishop William Swing, "The United Religions Initiative," document issued
in April 1996 by the URI; p. 1
11 Bishop William Swing, "The United Religions Initiative," document issued
in April 1996 by the URI; p. 3
12 Bishop William Swing, "The United Religions Initiative," document issued
in April 1996 by the URI; p. 3
13 Bishop William Swing, "The United Religions Initiative," document issued
in April 1996 by the URI; p. 3
14 Bishop William Swing, "The United Religions Initiative," document issued
in April 1996 by the URI; p. 10
15 Bishop William Swing, "Journeying where the soul of this world was born,"
Pacific Church News, April/May 1996, p. 31
16 Bishop William Swing, opening speech for the United Religions summit meeting, June
24-28, 1996, p. 1
17 Bishop William Swing, opening speech for the United Religions summit meeting, June
24-28, 1996, p. 4
18 Bishop William Swing, opening speech for the United Religions summit meeting, June
24-28, 1996, pp. 3, 5
19 Bishop William Swing, opening speech for the United Religions summit meeting, June
24-28, 1996, p. 5
20 Jorge Aquino (Religion News Service), "A Bold Attempt to Close Breach Between
Religions," San Jose Mercury News, p. 11-E, June 29, 1996; Internet document, p. 2
21 Bishop William Swing, "The Surprise Factor," Pacific Church News,
June/July 1996, p. 10
22 Bishop William Swing, "Magellan Was Headed In The Right Direction,"
Pacific Church News, June/July 1996, p. 12
23 From notes taken by Lee Penn of the speech given by Bishop Swing at the 9/11/96
meeting of the San Francisco Deanery for the Episcopal Diocese of California
24 From notes taken by Lee Penn of the speech given by Bishop Swing at the 9/11/96
meeting of the San Francisco Deanery for the Episcopal Diocese of California
25 Bishop William Swing, "Diocesan Convention Address," October 19, 1996, p.
12
26 Bishop William Swing, "A Message for all the People," URI pamphlet,
excerpt from a sermon delivered by Bishop Swing on Christmas Eve of 1996 at Grace
Cathedral, p. 2
27 Jennifer Shaw, "Bishop Offers New Religious Vision for 21st Century,"
Contra Costa Sun, news section, page 6, March 26, 1997
28 Don Lattin, interview with Bishop William Swing - "Bishop's Idea for a Leap of
Faiths," San Francisco Chronicle, June 22, 1997, p. 3/Z1
29 Don Lattin, interview with Bishop William Swing - "Bishop's Idea for a Leap of
Faiths," San Francisco Chronicle, June 22, 1997, p. 3/Z1, p. 3
30 Don Lattin, interview with Bishop William Swing - "Bishop's Idea for a Leap of
Faiths," San Francisco Chronicle, June 22, 1997, p. 3/Z1
31 Richard Scheinin, "Faith in Dialogue: Leaders From World's Myriad Religions
Gather at Stanford in Hopes of Transcending Beliefs, Borders With 'Spiritual UN',"
San Jose Mercury News, June 23, 1997, front section, page 1A
32 Bishop William Swing, "Invitation Letter," Journal of the United Religions
Initiative, issue 3, Summer 1997, p. 3
33 Bishop William Swing, "Opening Address" to the 1997 URI summit conference;
Internet document, http://www.united-religions.org/youth/welcome/swingspeech.htm, p. 2
34 Bishop William Swing, "Opening Address" to the 1997 URI summit conference;
Internet document, http://www.united-religions.org/youth/welcome/swingspeech.htm, p. 3
35 Bishop William Swing, remarks to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, November 4,
1997; Internet version, obtained by a search of deja.com news group postings
36 Bishop William Swing, "Excerpts: Bishop's Address [to the 1997 Diocesan
convention]," Pacific Church News, December 1997/January 1998, p. 34
37 Bishop William Swing, "Excerpts: Bishop's Address" [to 1997 Convention of
the Diocese of California], Pacific Church News, December 1997/January 1998, p. 35
38 Bishop William Swing, "China: A Quick Trip for Two Conversations 3/4 November
17-21, 1997," Pacific Church News, February/March 1998, p. 5
39 Carol Barnwell, " 'United Religions' is Bishop Swing's goal," The Lambeth
Daily, Issue 4, 22 July 1998; Internet document,
http://anglican.org/online/Lambeth-Daily/22/UR.html, p. 1
40 Carol Barnwell, " 'United Religions' is Bishop Swing's goal," The Lambeth
Daily, Issue 4, 22 July 1998; Internet document,
http://anglican.org/online/Lambeth-Daily/22/UR.html, p. 2
41 Carol Barnwell, " 'United Religions' is Bishop Swing's goal," The Lambeth
Daily, Issue 4, 22 July 1998; Internet document,
http://anglican.org/online/Lambeth-Daily/22/UR.html, p. 2
42 Baxter and Sax, (first names not stated), "Exclusive Interview: Bishop William
Swing, Head of the United Religions Organization," Endtime, July/August 1998,
Internet document, http://www.endtime.com/bishop.htm, p. 8
43 Baxter and Sax, (first names not stated), "Exclusive Interview: Bishop William
Swing, Head of the United Religions Organization," Endtime, July/August 1998,
Internet document, http://www.endtime.com/bishop.htm, pp. 9, 10
44 Baxter and Sax, (first names not stated), "Exclusive Interview: Bishop William
Swing, Head of the United Religions Organization," Endtime, July/August 1998,
Internet document, http://www.endtime.com/bishop.htm, p. 11
45 Bishop William Swing, "Let's Pursue Peace With Islam," San Francisco
Chronicle, Wednesday, October 14, 1998, p. A21
46 "Bishop Swing Addresses World Congress of Faiths: Raises Possibility That URI
Might Play A Role in Salt Lake City Olympics Opening Ceremony," Pacific Church News,
December 1998/January 1999, p. 39
47 "Bishop Swing Addresses World Congress of Faiths: Raises Possibility That URI
Might Play A Role in Salt Lake City Olympics Opening Ceremony," Pacific Church News,
December 1998/January 1999, p. 39
48 Colleen O'Connor, "Uniting Religions: Bishop Swing talks about religious
terrorism, atomic bombs, and why we need a United Religions now," Internet document,
http://www.gracecathedral.org/enrichment/interviews/index.shtml, p. 2
49 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 14
50 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 17.
51 Austin Flannery, O.P., General Editor, Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and
Post-Conciliar Documents, 1992 rev. ed., Costello Publishing Company, Northpoint, New
York, ISBN 0-918344-15-8; Vatican II, Nostra Aetate, 28 October 1965, section 2, p. 739
52 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 18
53 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9, p. 22
54 Goethe, from the Prologue of Faust, as quoted by Bishop William Swing, The Coming
United Religions, United Religions Initiative and CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9;
p. 28
55 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 27
56 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 44
57 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 31
58 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 31
59 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 33
60 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; pp. 58-59
61 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 59
62 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 62
63 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 63
64 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 63
65 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 64
66 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 70
67 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 71
68 Bishop William Swing, The Coming United Religions, United Religions Initiative and
CoNexus Press, 1998, ISBN 0-9637897-5-9; p. 73
69 Dennis Delman, "For the Sake of the Children, We've Got to Talk," Bishop
Swing Tells Commonwealth Club Gathering," Pacific Church News, August/September 1999,
p. 25
70 Dennis Delman, "For the Sake of the Children, We've Got to Talk," Bishop
Swing Tells Commonwealth Club Gathering," Pacific Church News, August/September 1999,
p. 25
71 Elaine Ruth Fletcher, "S.F. group's interfaith meeting draws Dalai Lama to
Jerusalem," San Francisco Examiner, June 11, 1999, page A-2; Internet version;
downloaded from http://www.sfgate.com, p. 1
72 Kristen Fairchild, "If a United Nations, Why Not a United Religions: An
Interview With Charles Gibbs," The Spire, February 1997,
http://www.gracecom.org/thespire/textures/gibbs1.html, p. 5
73 Kristen Fairchild, "If a United Nations, Why Not a United Religions: An
Interview With Charles Gibbs," The Spire, February 1997,
http://www.gracecom.org/thespire/textures/gibbs1.html, p. 6
74 Kristen Fairchild, "If a United Nations, Why Not a United Religions: An
Interview With Charles Gibbs," The Spire, February 1997,
http://www.gracecom.org/thespire/textures/gibbs2.html, p. 4
75 Kristen Fairchild, "If a United Nations, Why Not a United Religions: An
Interview With Charles Gibbs," The Spire, February 1997, Part 2, Internet document,
http://www/gracecom.org/thespire/textures/gibbs2.html, pp. 5, 6
76 Daniel Sneider, "United Nations of Clerics?: Religious Leaders Envision
'Spiritual UN'," Christian Science Monitor, July 18, 1996, p. 3
77 Charles Gibbs, "Regional Conferences Prepare for URI Global Summit,"
Pacific Church News, August/September 1997, p. 23
78 Charles Gibbs, "Regional Conferences Prepare for URI Global Summit,"
Pacific Church News, August/September 1997, p. 23
79 United Religions Initiative, "United Religions Draft Charter June 1998-June
1999," pamphlet issued by the URI in the fall of 1998, "Introduction to the
Draft Charter" section
80 Charles Gibbs, "An Ethical Mandate for the United Religions," Journal of
the United Religions Initiative, Issue 5 (spring 1999), p. 11
81 As quoted by Witness magazine (a liberal Episcopal magazine), December 1995, p. 36
82 Bill Rankin, "URI Fundraising - What is Our Role," URI News Update, fall
1998, p. 2
83 The Center for Progressive Christianity, "President's Report, February
1999," section on the United Religions Initiative by William Rankin, Internet
document, http://www.tcpc.org/newsFeb99.html, p. 6
84 The Center for Progressive Christianity, "President's Report, February
1999," section on the United Religions Initiative by William Rankin, Internet
document, http://www.tcpc.org/newsFeb99.html, p. 7
85 The Center for Progressive Christianity, "President's Report, February
1999," section on the United Religions Initiative by William Rankin, Internet
document, http://www.tcpc.org/newsFeb99.html, p. 8
