Spiral Series 2010

The Art of Interfaith Dialogue

"My house shall be a house of prayer for all peoples."

--Isaiah 56:7

Throughout history, religion has fueled hatred and intolerance as well as love and understanding.  Too often we approach the faith and practice of others with preconceived ideas and with fear. 

We have made a commitment at CRC to be an inclusive community.  Listening and learning from and about those whose spiritual paths are different from our won leads to the kind of cooperation that grows the relationships of allies and often results in the deepening of one’s own faith.  True interfaith dialogue has the potential of healing the hurts and mistakes of the past and paving the way for a more hopeful and peaceful future.

This series will give us the opportunity to practice the art of dialogue with religious leaders from different faiths who will share their faith journeys with us.

Programs

Sunday, January 10, 1-3 pm
"Pushing (Even More) at the Boundaries"
Sister Carla Mae Streeter

Professor of Systematic Theology, Aquinas Institute of Theology
We began our conversation with Sister Carla Mae Streeter and Rabbi Susan on Yom Kippur. To begin this year’s Spiral Series, we’ll meet to continue examining and practicing best practices in interfaith dialogue—ways in which we can listen without judging and share without persuading. Rabbi Susan and Sister Carla Mae will share a chapter from their upcoming book to model their 27 years of practice in dialogue.

Sunday, January 17, 1-3 pm
"Hinduism Meets Modernity: How Could 360 Million Gods and Goddesses All Be Wrong?"
Swami Nishpapananda

Assistant Minister, Vedanta Society of St. Louis

Swami Nishpapananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India and has resided at the Vedanta Society of St Louis since 1974. He will interweave a personal narrative from a Midwest farm town to the banks of the Ganges, with the story of Hinduism’s response to the challenge of modernity. How does an ancient, broadly tolerant faith tradition maintain its integrity and continuity in the face of secularism, fundamentalism and widespread religious indifference?

Special Trip! Join CRC members to attend a 10:30 am service at the Vedanta Center of St. Louis. RSVP to Jessica Pollock at jessicapollock@charter.net or 618-539-0203.

Save the Date!

Spiritual Enrichment Weekend
February 19-21, 2010

Holy Ground Collaborative
Sometimes our most powerful teachers are just around the corner. We’ll spend a weekend learning with and from leaders in the other congregations that make up the Central West End Holy Ground Collaborative with CRC.
Specific program times TBA.

Sunday, March 14, 1-3 pm
"Israel & Palestine"
Mazen Badra, Minds of Peace Experiment
The “Minds of Peace Experiment” is a series of unique exercises in peacemaking and conflict resolution. It proposes simulations of a potential Palestinian-Israeli public assembly – a multi-party negotiating congress. The assembly is designed to involve the people in the peace process through provoking a public debate over central issues. Mazen Badra, a professor at Webster University and Sanford-Brown, will discuss his experience as a Palestinian involved in Minds of Peace and the possibility of peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Sunday, March 21, 1-3 pm
"Culture and Religion"
Dr. Damayanthi Niles

Associate Professor of Contructive Theology, Eden Theologial Seminary
Dr. Niles is a Presbyterian Misinster and true citizen of the world. She has lived, worked and studied in several countries and challenges sterotypes and assumptions with her stories and her eclectic experience and world view. She will share her faith journey as a Christian in Muslim and Hindu countries and help us understand how culture and personal theology can deepen our faith.

Sunday, March 28, 1-3 pm
"Windows on Iran"
Dr. Fatemeh Keshavarz-Karamustafa

Chair, Department of Asian & Near Eastern Languages & Literatures, Washington University in St. Louis
A native of Iran, Dr. Keshavarz began the “Windows on Iran” series in the summer of 2006 in order to provide reliable information about contemporary Iranian politics and culture, and to counteract the unrelenting barrage of negative news about Iran in the mainstream U.S. media. Join us to learn in person from the Honorary Co-Chair of the national Iranians for Peace organization.

Sunday, April 18, 1-3 pm
Concert & Celebration
Imam Muhammad Hasic and Rabbi James Stone Goodman
We’ll conclude our series with a concert and celebration of Jewish and Bosnian music and culture, re-igniting the beauty and poetry of the shared Jewish-Muslim experience of Sarajevo.