The death-knell of all fanaticism, not published in the USA where free belief is law and media sells its flames, but by the Mumbai Mirror, Saturday, September 11, 2010.
It was on September 11 in 1893 that the world’s first Parliament of Religions was convened in Chicago and lasted for more than two weeks. On that day, a famous monk began his speech as ‘Sisters and Brothers of America’ and received a deafening standing ovation.
“Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair.
Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now.
But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.”
Entire speech here. Parliaments of the World’s Religions here.