The Institute of Interfaith Dialog - Exploring Faiths

The Institute of Interfaith Dialog - Exploring Faiths


The link above takes you to the Institute for Interfaith Dialog where you can explore the beliefs of five of the world's major religions:

• Buddhism
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Judaism

This is a great concise resource for those wanting to know more about any of these faiths. These introductions provide enough information for one to embark on a spiritually enriching study of any one or all of these different faiths.

Can faith help heal our divide? - Opinion - USATODAY.com

Can faith help heal our divide? - Opinion - USATODAY.com

USA Today Columnist, Oliver  Thomas, makes the following statement while writing about the current divisions in America and the need for genuine Community: 

If genuine community is to occur, it will require sacrifice on the part of both winners and losers. Winners must be willing to reach across the chasm that divides us and welcome losers to choice seats at the table. Losers — rather than allowing themselves to steep in their bitterness, awaiting the first opportunity to pounce on the new president — must accept the responsibility of shared leadership. Of being the loyal opposition. John McCain set the tone for this beautifully on election night.Graciousness will be called for all around, as will be compromise — that essential lubricant of our life together. Ours is a world of half loaves, but alas, it is still bread.Here's the interesting thing. America's faith communities are well positioned to lead the way, to set the example for the rest of us. They are, after all, the places where millions of Americans go to find community. There, Republicans, Democrats and independents weekly kneel beside each other to acknowledge their shared humanity and their common commitment to a transcendent God and the truths that transcend our political and ideological differences. Truth. Justice. Love of neighbor.

He goes on to say:

While national leaders must set the proper tone, wars are won in the trenches. Local pastors, priests, imams and rabbis will be called upon to do much of the heavy lifting. For example, getting attached to one another might mean getting unattached to things. Clergy can remind us that the things that give our lives meaning rarely cost money. They do, however, cost. We will need to become better listeners. And less judgmental. We might even relax our grip on the notion that all of life must be adversarial. Perhaps cooperation, rather than competition, is the pathway to this new American dream.

Thomas makes some excellent points in this column. He asserts that we should learn to concentrate on those fundamental beliefs and needs that we all hold in common  rather than being divided by the things that we disagree upon. He contends that there is much work to do in the future of the United States and it can not be done without a deep sense of community and the responsibility to one another that such an understanding breeds. 

Communities of Faith can indeed help lead the way in this endeavor. I agree with Thomas that they are uniquely qualified to help the broader community to come together and pursue community building practices such as the Golden Rule. This will be good not only for our nation but for communities of faith as well. We all need to learn how to sit at the same table and listen to one another's concerns and ideas. Only then can we build a world conducive for everyone rather than a select few. 

Moving on up...

Well, I think I am about to win the award for the most unmanaged blog on Blogger. But, the move is complete and we are officially in our new home; new for us, that is, not new in general. Here are some pictures we took yesterday. I know this isn't a personal blog but surely some of you will enjoy. :) Flatter me a bit and I promise we will resume our regularly scheduled programming shortly.

You will notice that there are some tree pictures in the mix. These are in a cemetery right across the street from our house. It was cloudy and the pictures do not do justice to the beauty of these two trees. One is an evergreen and the other is an oak (I think). Both are rather unique to me because of their height, fatness, and overall symmetry. Trees in NC generally grow tall but lack the width seen in hardwoods in the Midwest. Both these trees are tall and wide which is why I love them. I can not wait to see the oak during the spring.

Moving Day!

The actual moving phase of our move is underway. I am signing in for the last time before I unplug and pack up the computer. If anyone is reading out there in the blogdom, whisper a word of prayer. Hopefully, if everything goes well, I'll be back pecking by tomorrow. 

Wish us well! 

Episcopal Schism: Both Sides' Leaders Unsure Of Next Step -- Courant.com

Episcopal Schism: Both Sides' Leaders Unsure Of Next Step -- Courant.com

The North American schism is not news but it has officially, for practical intents and purposes, happened. I was out running an errand this afternoon and my local NPR station was talking about it. The broadcast was highlighting how the schism would affect churches in the Charlotte, NC area. One break away church was interviewed and then an Episcopal USA church was interviewed as well. There were two things in this broadcast that really caught attention. 

First, it was acknowledged that in spite of the schism, most of these Anglican churches will praying similar prayers, having essentially the same order of service, dictated by the same Book of Common Prayer. I find this extremely interesting; if you visited both churches being unaware of each respective church's position on the homosexual issue, and you based your opinion solely upon the worship environment, you would likely leave each church not being aware of any significant difference. 

Secondly, each church highlighted in the broadcast was asked what their church mission was; that is, what was important to them as a body of believers in their community. Each church answered with essentially the same answer. They were concerned about the people around them who were hurting and in need of help and ministry. Neither church answered with the desire to be a bastion of some ideological position.

So, they both worship the same and they are both reaching out the same people, being concerned about the world around them. Consequently, what is this schism doing effectively to the Anglican church in North America? It is weakening their ability to carry out their stated purpose to minister to a hurting world with the love of God. These dividing churches are not just buildings or people with different ideals, they are resources, monetarily and physically, as people with hands to serve and touch a world in need and peril. 

There is allot more I would love to say here to these two groups. I am not a cradle Anglican but I love the Communion; I love the Book of Common Prayer. I am proud to be an Anglican and look forward to many years of worship and ministry within the Communion. But it really grieves my heart that this divide is happening, happening in front of a world that needs the church,  of all places, to be a place safe from contention and strife, hate and bigotry. 

United we stand, divied we fall. That is an old but powerful principle that I think should be heeded here. Perhaps, each side should go back and read the parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30).