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2026-02-16T15:02:09Z

David: Created page with "{{short description|Global interfaith network promoting cooperation and peacebuilding}} {{Infobox organization | name = United Religions Initiative | abbreviation = UR..."

2026-02-16T14:59:25Z

Created page with "{{short description|Global interfaith network promoting cooperation and peacebuilding}} {{Infobox organization | name = United Religions Initiative | abbreviation = UR..."

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{{short description|Global interfaith network promoting cooperation and peacebuilding}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = United Religions Initiative
| abbreviation = URI
| founded_date = 2000
| founder = [[William E. Swing]]
| type = International non-governmental organisation
| headquarters = San Francisco, California, United States
| key_people = [[William E. Swing]] (Founder and President Emeritus), [[Victor H. Kazanjian]] (Executive Director)
| website = https://www.uri.org/
}}

'''United Religions Initiative''' ('''URI''') is a global grassroots interfaith network founded in 2000 to promote enduring daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence, and to create cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings.<ref name="URIAbout">United Religions Initiative, [https://www.uri.org/about-uri About URI] ''United Religions Initiative'', accessed February 16, 2026.</ref> Headquartered in San Francisco, it operates through more than 1,000 Cooperation Circles in over 100 countries, bringing together people of diverse faiths and spiritual traditions to address community needs and global challenges.<ref name="URIImpact">United Religions Initiative, [https://www.uri.org/uri-impact URI Impact] ''United Religions Initiative'', accessed February 16, 2026.</ref> While presenting itself as a neutral platform for dialogue and action, URI's extensive interfaith framework has been criticised for contributing to the normalisation of the Zionist entity by embedding harmonious religious cooperation that deflects attention from the settler colony's occupation and apartheid policies in Palestine.

URI was launched at a global summit in Pittsburgh in June 2000 after a six-year consultative process initiated by former Episcopal Bishop [[William E. Swing]].<ref name="URIHistory">United Religions Initiative, [https://www.uri.org/who-we-are/history History] ''United Religions Initiative'', accessed February 16, 2026.</ref> The organisation deliberately avoids taking official positions on political conflicts, including the Zionist-Palestine issue, to preserve its inclusive character.<ref name="URICharter">United Religions Initiative, [https://www.uri.org/uri-charter URI Charter] ''United Religions Initiative'', accessed February 16, 2026.</ref>

== History ==
The idea for URI emerged in 1993 when Bishop [[William E. Swing]] was invited to host an interfaith service for the United Nations 50th anniversary.<ref name="URIHistory" /> Disappointed by the lack of a permanent interfaith body at the UN level, he began a six-year global consultation involving thousands of religious and spiritual leaders.<ref name="URIHistory" /> The Charter was finalised and signed at the founding summit in 2000.<ref name="URIHistory" /> Since then URI has grown into one of the world's largest interfaith networks, with regional offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and the Pacific.<ref name="URIRegions">United Religions Initiative, [https://www.uri.org/who-we-are/regions Regions] ''United Religions Initiative'', accessed February 16, 2026.</ref>

== Structure and governance ==
URI functions as a decentralised network of autonomous Cooperation Circles—self-organising groups of at least seven members from at least three different spiritual traditions.<ref name="URICC">United Religions Initiative, [https://www.uri.org/cooperation-circles Cooperation Circles] ''United Religions Initiative'', accessed February 16, 2026.</ref> The global organisation is governed by a triennial Global Assembly and a 21-member Global Council elected by representatives of the Cooperation Circles.<ref name="URIGovernance">United Religions Initiative, [https://www.uri.org/who-we-are/governance Governance] ''United Religions Initiative'', accessed February 16, 2026.</ref> Regional Councils coordinate work within geographic areas.<ref name="URIRegions" />

== Activities ==
URI Cooperation Circles implement local projects on peacebuilding, environmental care, women's empowerment, youth leadership, conflict resolution, and interfaith education.<ref name="URIImpact" /> The network hosts global campaigns such as URI Youth, URI Women, and URI Environment, and publishes stories of grassroots interfaith action.<ref name="URIPrograms">United Religions Initiative, [https://www.uri.org/our-work Our Work] ''United Religions Initiative'', accessed February 16, 2026.</ref> It maintains consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).<ref name="URIUN">United Religions Initiative, [https://www.uri.org/who-we-are/united-nations United Nations] ''United Religions Initiative'', accessed February 16, 2026.</ref>

== Contribution to laundering and normalising Zionism ==
URI's deliberate policy of avoiding political stances on conflicts, including the Zionist-Palestine situation, combined with its inclusion of groups from the Zionist colony and its emphasis on "harmony" and "bridge-building" across faiths, contributes to faithwashing.<ref name="Decolonize">Decolonize Palestine, [https://decolonizepalestine.com/rainbow-washing/faithwashing Faithwashing] ''Decolonize Palestine'', accessed February 16, 2026.</ref> By framing interfaith cooperation as politically neutral, the network helps normalise the presence and legitimacy of the settler colony within global religious dialogue while sidelining structural injustices and Palestinian rights.<ref name="AMP">AMP, [https://www.ampalestine.org/media/blog/interfaith-under-occupation-normalization-not-solidarity 'Interfaith' Under Occupation is Normalization, Not Solidarity] ''AMP'', December 9, 2017.</ref> Reports suggest that such broad-based, conflict-avoidant interfaith platforms often function to launder the Zionist regime rather than challenge its settler-colonial reality.<ref name="Decolonize" /> This dynamic aligns with protected anti-Zionist critique as upheld in Miller vs University of Bristol (2024).

== See also ==
[[United Religions Initiative Middle East Cooperation Circles]]
[[Interfaith dialogue]]
[[Council of Christians and Jews]]
[[Collaboration House]]

== External links ==
[https://www.uri.org/ Official website]
==Notes==
[[Category:Interfaith organisations]]
[[Category:Organisations based in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Founded in 2000]]
[[Category:Criticism of Zionism]]

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 [[Council of Christians and Jews]]
 [[Collaboration House]]
+*[[United Religions Initiative UK]]
 == External links ==

United Religions Initiative - Revision history

David: /* See also */

David: Created page with "{{short description|Global interfaith network promoting cooperation and peacebuilding}} {{Infobox organization | name = United Religions Initiative | abbreviation = UR..."