Wednesday, February 08, 2006:

Open Houses of Faith: begins Feb 1

Open Houses of Faith is an exciting, educational forum for enhancing public awareness about different faiths and religions in and around Prince William County. Each participating religious group independently hosts its own Open House for conveying basic information about its beliefs and practices. It is an excellent opportunity for a variety of different religious groups to introduce themselves to the community, designed for anyone interested in learning about their religious neighbors. 

This year, over twenty different religions, both Christian and non-Christian, are slated to host an open-house during  February and March. Most will be held on a Tuesday or Thursday evening. Several are scheduled for a Saturday or Sunday day or evening. Check the schedule. Among those religions hosting are Muslim, Baha'i, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and possibly even Shinto. Students in my Western and Eastern religions class can earn student options or extra  credit by attending three or more open houses (including at least two of the non-Christian religions related to the religions you are studying). 

These experiences will be a bit different from the encounters & dialogue you are also asked to do on your own. The open houses will not be as authentic an experience and, since they are set up by others, it's a lot easier for you. This is why I ask you do to three open houses as equivalent to one encounter & dialogue. To demonstrate your participation in these open houses as a learning experience (to get course credit) I ask you to write a response to the experiences:

• For each open house you attend, think of a question you could ask. Ask one of the religious leaders your question. What questions did others ask that you thought were interesting? What were the answers given?

• Write an essay on what you learned from attending the Open Houses. Some things to consider in your essay: What are some of their beliefs? When do they meet? What do they do during a worship service? How are these religions similar to each other and to your own faith (if you have one)?

Listen to this: (from WAMU/NPR radio Streaming audio [archived])

"Who changed the Bible and Why?" a discussion with a Biblical Scholar (aired on NPR's Diane Rehm Show, Dec. 8, 2005) (51 min)

February 2003:

Here's a review of a book that sounds worthy of reading:
Beyond the Clash of Religions: The Emergence of a New Paradigm
By Udo Schaefer

Reviewer Burl Barer notes:
"In Beyond the Clash of Religions: The Emergence of a New Paradigm, Udo Schaefer offers a new theological conceptualization that seeks both to explain how the world's great religions can be so different and yet the same, and also to suggest how a wider acceptance of this understanding could cure religious intolerance and the social ills that stem from it."

October 2002:

Listen to this: (from WAMU/NPR radio Streaming audio [archived])

Tech Tuesday: Religion Online (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)
For many, religion is a strictly personal matter. Yet today, millions use the Internet as a regular part of their spiritual practice. Join Kojo for a special Tech Tuesday rebroadcast discussion about online religion, and the future of electronic faith.
Dr. Brenda Brasher, Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Mount Union College; author, Give Me That Online Religion (Jossey-Bass)

Abraham and Religious Conflict (Wednesday, October 9, 2002)
Religion may sometimes be at the center of conflict even though much of our religious heritage is "shared". Bruce Feiler and several clergy join Kojo to discuss the biblical character Abraham and how his legacy may help heal difficulties between Jews, Muslims, and Christians today.

Here's something interesting to think about. Where do you stand on the issue?

'Spirituality' is Escapist, Shallow and Self-Indulgent

by: Dina L. Nickerson

OurFaiths.org's front page carries an interesting article by the same title. Here are a few paragraphs from the original article by Jonathan Sacks...

"SPIRITUALITY good, religion bad. That seems to be the current state of the Western soul. Church attendance is down but interest in the soul, the self, the intimate geography of the mind, is alive and well.

Eastern and New Age philosophies are on a high. So too are therapies of various kinds. Each year seems to produce a new metaphysical chic. A while back it was Buddhism. Then came feng shui. At the moment it seems to be kabbalah, an esoteric form of Jewish mysticism currently beguiling Madonna and other Hollywood icons. Organized religion is on the wane, but the search for meaning, especially if it takes exotic forms, is as strong as ever.

Which must be good news, mustn't it? It shows that we are not just materialists, hedonists, and consumers undergoing retail therapy. We have a soul. We care. We meditate. We commune. We are in touch with higher worlds. We are, after all, children of the spirit in search of light.

Well, yes, up to a point. But is spirituality really a substitute for religion?..." If you are interested in the rest of the article, please visit the web site at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,61-392376,00.html.

Have you thought about the changing winds of religion in your area and your country? What is your opinion of this article? How does it reflect upon your faith? If you do not live in the United States, do you see a similar trend in your own country?

If you would like to comment on this article, please visit the Interfaith Interests message board on OurFaiths.org.