Understand The Times, International

Comment from UTT:

Please read the overview of this following article and then take note of the names listed as participants who are attending the highest profile interfaith meeting in recorded history.

Also consider the following: the news this past week has been full of items that have related to a common theme. Interfaith, we are being told is the only way to solve our planets problems. This interfaith agenda will provide hope, we are told, that will bring social change and attack problems like malaria, AIDS, poverty and illiteracy.

Those who hold to a faith, and refuse to accept this "all embracing faith" are considered to be dangerous fundamentalists who are holding back a one world religion for the hope and benefit of mankind.

I hope Franklin Graham (one of the attendees) will speak out on behalf of Jesus Christ, who stated that all those who say that there are many ways to heaven will end up in hell.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia said Wednesday at the start of an interfaith conference that religion should not be blamed for history's conflict, but rather extremism.

"My brothers, we must tell the world that differences don't need to lead to disputes," Abdullah said through a Spanish interpreter, according to The Associated Press. "The tragedies we have experienced throughout history were not the fault of religion but because of the extremism that has been adopted by some followers of all the religions, and of all political systems."

But Abdullah himself, who took over the kingdom after the death of his half brother in 2005, has made remarkable efforts to reach out to other faiths. He met with Pope Benedict XVI late last year - the first time a pope and a reigning Saudi king has met.

And in June, Abdullah convened a religious conference in Mecca where participants vowed to improve relations between Islam's two major branches, Sunni and Shia. Abdullah, at the meeting, had denounced extremism, and said Muslims must show Islam's "good message" to the world.

Besides Christians and Jews, the interfaith gathering also includes Buddhist and Hindu participants.

Prominent religious and political leaders attending the event include evangelist Franklin Graham, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, former Vice President Al Gore, American civil rights leader and ex-presidential candidate the Rev. Jesse Jackson, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Rabbi David Rosen.

The conference is said to possibly be the highest profile interfaith meeting in recorded history.