Friday, April 30, 2010

interreligious dialogue can effectively solve acute modern-day problems

26 April 2010, 13:53

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill:
"interreligious dialogue can effectively solve acute modern-day problems"


Baku, April 26, Interfax - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia
believes in effectiveness of dialogue between believers of different
religions in solving actual problems of the modern-day world.

"God grants so that believers have a possibility jointly, in fraternal
spirit, basing on their religious convictions solve problems and tasks all
of us are facing," Patriarch Kirill said on Sunday preaching after the
Divine service in the Russian cathedral in
Baku, where he came to participate in the World Interreligious Summit.

According to him, in the epoch of globalization, when "many distant
conflicts have become our conflicts," believers should be convinced that
"it's impossible to solve all modern-day problems with human reason only."

"We should rely on the divine wisdom, contemplate all problems through our
faith and convictions," the Russian Church Primate believes.

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=7197

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • Monday, April 12, 2010

    How can you keep up with the fast pace of new stories?

    When news stories that were posted four hours ago are old, how in the world
    can you keep up?

    by Melodie Davis

    CHICAGO (RCCongress2010) April 8, 2010

    Octogenarian Dr. Martin Marty, professor emeritus of the University of
    Chicago Divinity School and renowned religion historian, moderated a
    Thursday morning panel addressing the changing media landscape for
    participants in the April 7-10 gathering of faith communicators, Religion
    Communication Congress 2010.

    Panelists included Kevin Eckstrom, editor of Religion News Service, who
    teaches at Northwestern University School of Journalism; Barbara Bradley
    Hagerty, religion beat reporter for National Public Radio and author of
    Fingerprints of God; and Kenneth Irby, founder of the photojournalism
    program at the Poynter Institute and head of the institute's visual
    journalism group.

    Moderator Marty opened the discussion with a reminder to the audience that
    from the perspective of religious history it "often takes 250 years to
    settle an issue." Eckstrom, who spoke of some of the difficulties wrought by
    the social media revolution, said truth, objectivity and credibility can
    suffer because of the speed at which information now moves through tweets,
    blogs and other new media.

    "I can't write as fast as I need to," Eckstrom noted.

    On the positive side, these same social media offer writers more direct
    contact with spokespersons - from religious leaders to politicians and
    celebrities - who they are able to access through social media pages without
    having to rely on public relations officers or agents.

    Hagerty said her job at National Public Radio (NPR) is to wade through the
    mountain of materials available everywhere - she recently was asked to skim
    10,000 pages of court documents in 45 minutes for a story - but that her
    best and most unique story ideas still come the old fashioned way: from
    talking to people about their ideas and experiences and finding a unique or
    interesting angle.

    "Those are the stories that get 1,000 comments on the NPR web site like
    (snapping her fingers) that." One example, she said, was the story that
    explored the question, "Which is more violent, the Bible or the Koran?"

    Irby, who also is a pastor, said that in the age of the "always on and the
    20 second deadline" the role of journalists is to be "sense makers." He
    believes that community building can and does happen through social networks
    but that the danger of some networks lies in users accessing only links
    connected their Facebook friends, and not taking advantage of a wider diet.

    "You have to work to get and present a balanced view," Irby pointed out.

    Audience members lined up at the microphones to ask questions of panelists,
    who agreed that the social networking explosion is still in its infancy.

    Hagerty reminded the audience that "Reporters want to get it right. If the
    media call asking for a comment or viewpoint, talk to us, even if it can't
    be on the record. It will be a better story if we have good background."

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    Melodie Davis, a member of the RCCongress2010 communications committee, is
    staff writer and producer for Third Way Media

    Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, RCCongress2010, 347-513-4030

    http://www.rccongress2010.org/news/changingsocietychangingmediapanel.shtml

    The Religion Communication Congress (RCCongress 2010) is an international,
    interfaith gathering of religion communicators held every ten years offering
    cutting edge skills-building workshops, challenging plenary speakers, and
    networking opportunities with communications professionals. For more
    information, visit http://www.rccongress2010.org/.

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