"The case of Michael Sevetus: Dialogue and freedom
of conscience" in the Forum of Cultures of Barcelona
Panel - Forum of Cultures of Barcelona 2004
"The case of Michael Servetus: dialogue and freedom
of conscience"
Richard Boeke, Fernando Solsona, J.A. Ferrer Benimeli,
Ana Gómez Rabal
Date: Sunday, July 11, 2004
Time: 9:30 a.m to 11 a.m.
Place: Centro de Convenciones, Room 132, 1st floor
Registration number: tel + (34) 901 24 2004
What is the Parliament of the World’s Religions?
The Parliament of the World’s religions is an autonomous
event which will take place within the framework of the
Forum of Barcelona. The first Parliament was held in Chicago
in 1893, and this will be its fourth edition and the first
which takes place in a non-speaking English country.
According to the Program of Activities (page 31), “thousands
of people from all over the world will participate with
the aim of fostering mutual understanding and respect
and learn to live in harmony in a context of diversity
to be made aware of the existence of “the others” as different
from oneself and accept him in his entirety.
Differences among religious and spiritual identities,
among languages, among ethnic groups, social strata and
cultures are a daily reality in urban centers of the planet.
Depending on the different point of view, this inevitable
fact of our reality may be a source of enrichment or a
threat for our personal and collective identity that may
end up in a conflict.
Luckily enough, in a big number of urban centers, there
are more and more interreligious movement in favor of
peace that foster harmony and consider diversity as something
positive. These movements are represented in the Parliament
of the World’s religion which intends to be a meeting
point for spirituality."
Why should we discuss about Michael Servetus in the
Forum?
Michael Servetus discussed about dogmas of faith with
the great reformers of his time and drew the rejection
of the Catholic Church and the main protestant reformers.
During most all his life he was a fugitive and he had
to hide his identity to avoid persecution by the religious
authorities of different creeds. Finally, he was condemned
to burn at the stake by a Calvinist court. Michael Servetus
is an evident example of the irreparable damage that the
lack of dialogue and common understanding causes among
human beings, and therefore, of the need to actively foster
and enhance the true dialogue as a method to counteract
dogmatism and misunderstanding.
The example of Servetus, his works and the defense of
his personal freedom of research and opinion as opposed
to the dogmatism and authoritarianism, allows drawing
present conclusions about the importance that the recognition
of humanity "in the others" represents for the
structuring of a true dialogue in societies that are becoming
more and more multicultural.
We will release in the coming days the date, time and
place of the panel. The program of the Forum can be consulted
at www.barcelona2004.org.
For more information, please dial: + (34) 902 24 2004.
