Winter Holidays, Interfaith Memories

December 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment
3146738312_6127247e88_q

My childhood memories of the Winter holidays are a combination of Chanukah and Christmas.  My father's family is Jewish while my mother's is Christian, and despite the fact that my mother converted to Judaism prior to my birth, we still celebrated Christmas -- at least secular, family-based, gift-giving side of the holiday -- with her side of the family. Christmas Memories I have two pretty distinct memories of Christmas as a child.  One year, I was so excited I leaped into bed at my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: David Dashifen Kees posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

2013 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

December 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
PaganInterfaith

I attended Winston-Salem’s annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service the Sunday before Thanksgiving this year.  Normally it occurs on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, but apparently the consensus felt that were it to happen on a Sunday, more parishioners would be present, as most would not be traveling for the holiday.  It seemed the idea was a good one, as about 250 of Winston-Salem’s finest turned out for the occasion. Last year was my first time going to such an event.  I remember … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Drea Parker posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

The More Beautiful World

November 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment
cover image from the book depicting trees under a cloudy dawn sky

The book club here at Patheos provided me the opportunity to read and review a book entitled The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible and I leaped at the opportunity to check out a text published in North Atlantic Book's Sacred Activism series. Having read it, I found it to be more than a simple collection of words and pages; it's a disruptive phenomenon.  And, like all disruptions, it takes time to fully understand them and their ramifications.  Over the last few days as I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: David Dashifen Kees posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Is ALL Proselytizing UNethical and immoral?

November 7, 2013 By 7 Comments
Borrowed from www.sodahead.com

Two months ago I wrote a bit about Evangelism, touching on the tenets of reality in so much that Evangelism is what you make of it.  Well, today I want to touch on the slim facet of reality called Proselytism. John Morehead of Religious Diplomacy shared an article from Sacred Tribes Journal (Vol 8, No 1, Fall 2013) of which Elmer Thiessen was interviewed on his book, The Ethics of Evangelism published by InterVarsity Press, wondering if it might serve as some kind of topic generator.  After … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Drea Parker posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , 7 Comments

They’ve Got My Back

October 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Little white country church, a beautiful Sunday afternoon, friends, cookies and punch on the picnic tables outside, a harpist and flautist playing a pleasant half-hour prelude - this was the scene that greeted me when I arrived at Clayton Memorial UU in Newberry, S.C. on October 20 for a panel discussion called “Interfaith Perspectives on Compassion.” My colleagues on the panel were Bishop Herman Yoos of the S.C. Synod of the ELCA (Lutheran) Church, Imam Omar Shaheed, Rabbi Jonathan Case, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holli Emore posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Halloween: an Interfaith Teachable Moment

October 22, 2013 By 1 Comment
By Man vyi (Own work (own photo)) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

During my education classes, we talked a lot about "teachable moments," times during which the teaching of a topic becomes easier or essential.  October is, in my mind, perfectly suited as an interfaith teachable moment for Pagans. Jason Mankey, over at Raise the Horns, offered his own reflections on Halloween and challenged other bloggers here at Patheos to share theirs.  For Pagans, the month of October has often been a moment where we take a deep breath and prepare to see members of our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: David Dashifen Kees posts Tagged With: , , , , , , 1 Comment

Community Pilgrimage – Sharing Our Faiths

October 18, 2013 By 1 Comment
Pilgrimage

For our ancient ancestors having a fear of that which is “different” was a survival trait that kept them alive.  And this deeply engrained trait has remained active throughout human history into the present time.  However, it is now more of a problem than it is a help in promoting peace and understanding amongst groups of peoples. One area in which this fear of the “different” has remained strong is the realm of religion.  And this fear has led to violence, open warfare, and even … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Carol Kirk posts Tagged With: , , , , , , 1 Comment

On Disagreements and Discrimination

October 8, 2013 By 3 Comments
Streets signs at the intersection between Church St. and State St.

[Author’s Note: This post deals with currently controversial intersections between religion and politics.  I share it with you all not to create disagreement or strife, but because I think it’s important to cogently work through these situations together and because I think they’re illustrative of a deeper issue within the American public square.] In interfaith, it’s all too easy to see another’s point of view during a conversation.  I don’t have to agree with a dialog partner, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: David Dashifen Kees posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Diversity – A Lot of Work

October 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
groupcrop

Oops - I’m chairing the nominating committee for Interfaith Partners of S.C. for the next four weeks, leading up to when we must present a slate at our November 4 annual meeting. It’s just work that must be done in any organization, but each small part of the process takes on deeper, more tender, meaning when it involves multiple religions, cultures, ethnicities, genders, etc. Natural tensions exist, of course, between most religions and individuals: Vague (or acute) awareness of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holli Emore posts Tagged With: , , , , , Leave a Comment

Interfaith God Parenting

September 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Keesheadshot

This is a late addition to the Patheos Symposium regarding Passing on the Faith.  In this symposium, authors from across multiple channels were asked to offer their perspective on educating children in matters of faith. I've never seen myself as good parenting material.  Many disagree with me, but I know that I much prefer kids in small doses.  Especially when they can go home to someone else's home at the end of the day.  My wife and I have struggled with this because she greatly desires … [Read more...]

Filed Under: David Dashifen Kees posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , Leave a Comment