Monday, September 22, 2008

Muslims, Christians break Ramadan fast together in Bethlehem

Ecumenical News International News Highlights
22 September 2008


Muslims, Christians break Ramadan fast together in Bethlehem

Bethlehem (ENI). More than one thousand boisterous Bethlehem University
students crowded into the college's cafeteria as dusk fell, in order to
break the fast of the Muslim Ramadan holiday with a traditional evening
Iftar meal. Muslim women wearing brightly coloured hijabs sat at tables with
Christian friends, who had gold crucifixes hanging around their necks.
Though the day was a Muslim holiday, both Christian and Muslim students were
eating the special meal. Some Christian students had even joined their
Muslim friends in the traditional Ramadan fast in order to experience the
holiday fully. [497 words, ENI-08-0759]

ENI Online - www.eni.ch

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  • Thursday, September 18, 2008

    An Elder’s Prayer for Peace

    An Elder's Prayer for Peace
    posted by Healthy & Green Living Editors Sep 17, 2008 1:00 pm
    http://www.care2.com/greenliving/an-elders-prayer-for-peace.html
    By Grandfather William Commanda

    Inherent in the prayer of the Indigenous Nations of Turtle Island is the
    deep knowledge that we are all connected -my people in the east say
    GINAWAYDAGANUC. The prayer is a celebration of the profound
    knowledge that we are connected with the each other, as well as with the
    chief elements-Mother Earth,
    Water, Air and Fire-the animate and inanimate, the plants and animals and
    the larger universe, connected energetically. Spirit embraces and unifies
    us all.

    Inherent in the prayer is a deep respect for both Mother Earth, the
    penultimate provider and nurturer, and all her children. The prayer is a
    constant reminder to honor this connectedness, and walk gently in the places
    of our differences, for those are the places of co-creation. But across the
    globe, our relationship with Mother Earth and each other has been disrupted,
    and storms and blood despoil our world. When the new peoples arrived in this
    continent, they were too often motivated by greed, the realities of the day
    were war and genocide, and the ramifications were environmental exploitation
    and destruction; my ancestors were nearly all destroyed. Today, three
    documentaries of the present day-"Corporation," "Fahrenheit 911″ and
    "An Inconvenient Truth"-show that we are embroiled in the same struggles
    at a global level.

    We are now all feeling the impact of the environmental crisis that has
    resulted from the reckless exploitation of land, water and air, in
    escalating climate change; lands and peoples across the world are embroiled
    in desperate wars; and health is a primary concern across the world, no
    matter how privileged
    we might seem to be, for life itself is under attack.

    Today, the Law of Nature is revealing herself as the great equalizer on all
    planes, with ominous implications for us all and for future generations. But
    still too often, we see the issues as separate. We need to realize how
    deeply interconnected they are in order to develop a new blueprint for our
    collective future. These charts illustrate this point.

    Our ancestors always knew that all things were connected, and our ancient
    prophecies told them that one day, all the world would one day come to us to
    learn this. I have been the Carrier of the ancient sacred Seven Fires
    Prophecy Wampum Belt for almost 40 years. This prophecy, known to many
    peoples across the world, told of the important choices we would have to
    make at the time of the Seventh Fire, choices regarding our relationship
    with Mother Earth and each other, and that time is upon us. We have to
    choose wisely to ensure a meaningful heritage for all humanity and life
    forms.

    A global shift in our value base is essential. We need to move from greed
    and corporate domination to generosity and sharing; from fear and war to
    racial harmony and peace building; and from relentless environmental
    exploitation to the three indigenous Rs-respect, responsibility and
    reverence for Mother
    Earth.

    We need to inspire people across the world to embrace these values urgently.
    This is the great challenge of our times-this is what the Seven Fires
    Prophecy warned about. It is the task for which we have to
    strengthen ourselves collectively. The transformation comes from within
    first; then, recognizing that
    we are all connected, we reach out to transform our brothers and sisters and
    leaders. We strive to humanize institutions. I hold a vision for an
    Indigenous Centre where we can all come together to animate this future.
    http://www.asinabka.com/

    When we come together with one heart, one love, one mind and one
    determination, and breath our prayers and energy into the International Day
    of Peace, we will be creating the pathway to a Circle of All Nations, a
    Culture of Peace.

    I attach my prayer for peace upon the commencement of the International
    Decade for a Culture of Peace for your consideration. I continue to pray for
    its realization.
    -Megwetch

    Grandfather William Commanda, a 94-year-old Algonquin Elder, is the carrier
    of the Sacred Seven Fires Prophecy Wampum Belt and founder of _A Circle of
    All Nations_
    http://web.mac.com/circleofallnations/iWeb/circleofallnations/Welcome.html .


    This Sept. 21, please _take a moment at noon_
    http://www.care2.com/greenliving/global-sound-healing-event.html
    to join with millions around the planet and, in your tradition, spend a few
    moments in praying or meditating for peace for this magical world, all the
    generations to come and all our relations.
    May peace prevail on Earth.

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • Thursday, September 04, 2008

    Reflections on Receiving a Good Neighbor Award

    Community Award Given for Interfaith Work (and other stuff)

    Reflections on Receiving a Good Neighbor Award by Rev. John-Brian Paprock
    http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2008/09/reflections-on-receiving-good-neighbo
    r.html

    For more about the award from Holy Transfiguration blog:
    http://maruroopa.blogspot.com/2008/09/orthodox-priest-wins-community-award.h
    tml

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • Tuesday, September 02, 2008

    THE IMPORTANCE OF GOING "BEYOND TOLERANCE"

    GUSTAV NEIBUHR STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF GOING ³BEYOND TOLERANCE² IN DEVELOPING INTERFAITH RELATIONS

    San Francisco Interfaith Council Executive Director Michael Pappas moderated a special evening ³Forum² with Gustav Niebuhr at Grace Cathedral on April 15, 2008. Mr. Neiburh is the former New York Times religion reporter and author of ³Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in America,² an examination of the nature of community and religion as well as the roots of religious freedom in America.

    In this insightful, deeply felt examination of the nature of community and religion, Mr. Niebuhr traces the roots of religious freedom in America and the setbacks and triumphs it has encountered along the way. From Hindus and Quakers in Queens to Catholics and Jews in Baltimore, to black Baptists and Catholics in Louisville, to Catholics and Buddhists in Los Angeles, Niebuhr focuses on the ways people build ties between groups. He looks at why this
    movement is a particularly American endeavor and how it can save us all. Beyond Tolerance is a handbook for religious cooperation in our fractured times.

    Over a 20-year career in journalism, most recently at the New York Times and, prior to that, at the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Atlanta Journal/Constitution, Gustav Niebuhr has established a reputation as a leading writer about American religion. His work has been published in books, magazines and on the internet; he also does occasional commentaries
    on religion for the National Public Radio program "All Things Considered."

    The Forum at Grace Cathedral is a unique live and broadcast talk show, bringing people and ideas together on a community level. The Forum is dedicated to open conversation on critical issues.

    To view this special ³FORUM² in its entirety,









    OR click:

    http://fora.tv/2008/08/15/Gustav_Niebuhr_Searching_for_Interfaith_Understanding


  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock