NAINews Winter 2009

Many interfaith organizations provide interfaith education to the general public, and many educational institutions have developed advanced multifaith programs. NAINConnect ’09 will bring together representatives of these two environments to inform each other – to share stories, ideas and strategies for interfaith education so that we can all become more effective.

Tentative Schedule

Wednesday	NAIN Board Arrives	Saturday
	Pre-Conference Dinner Board Meeting	7:00 - 8:00	Breakfast
Thursday		All Day	Bookstore/Exhibit room opens
9:00 - 5:00	NAIN Board Pre-Conference Meeting	8:30-9:00	Sikh Workshop
Noon - 1:00	Lunch	9:00 - 10:00	Interactive panel discussion
		10:30 - Noon	Workshops
3:00 - 9:00	Registration begins	Noon - 1:30	Lunch
7:00 - 9:00	Reception - New Nain Orientation	1:30 - 3:00	Workshops
Friday		3:30 - 6:00	Annual General Meeting / Board meeting
7:00 - 8:00	Breakfast	6:30-8:00	Banquet
All Day	Bookstore/Exhibit room opens	8:00 - 8:30	Pagan Worship
8:30-10:00	Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council Opening	8:30 - 10:00	Outdoor Concert
10:30 - Noon	Workshops	Sunday
Noon - 12:30	Muslim Worship & prayers	7:00 - 8:00	Breakfast
12:30 - 1:30	Lunch	8:15 - 9:00	Buddhist worship
1:30 - 3:00	Workshops	9:00 10:00	Plenary
3:30 5:00	Workshops	10:15 - 11:30	Workshop
5:30 - 6:30	Dinner	11:45 - Noon	Christian Worship
6:30 - 7:00	Nez Perce worship	Noon - 1:00	Lunch
9:30 approx	Shabbat Worship at Sundown	1:30 - 2:30	Closing

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NAINConnect 2009 Registration Now Open

· Unity Village is located approximately one hour from the Kansas City airport (MCI).

· Ground transportation can be obtained from:

LLC: 816-522-3582 (cash only)

BATS: 816-588-4301

American Luxury Limousine: 800-861-1071

Quicksilver: 800-888-8294

CONFERENCE FEES

Registration Fee (There is no registration fee for high school or college students.)

Registration prior to May 15	$249
After May 15	$299
Room & Board*
Conference Center (per night)		Unity Village Motel (per night)
Single Room	$129.50	(2) Double beds 1 person	$108.80
Shared Room per person	$96.50	(2) Double beds 2 people per person	$80.80
		(1) Queen bed 1 person	$96.20
		(1) Queen bed 2 people per person	$77.30

*Room rates include meals. A meal package will be available for purchase by commuters.

The new Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center is one of the nation’s first “green” hotels and offers spacious guest rooms and relaxing public spaces. Each room features two queen beds and an Internet-ready workspace, flat-screen television, and granite-accented bathroom. And thanks to energy-efficient operating systems, green housekeeping practices, and improved air quality, this beautiful building is a more comfortable, productive, and healthy place to stay.

They also offer rooms in a recently renovated motel, which is just a short walk from all on-campus amenities.

Registration Form

Mail registration form and check or credit card information to:

Attn: SpiritPath Customer Care Department

SpiritPath at Unity Village
1901 NW Blue Parkway
Unity Village, MO 64065-0001

Phone: 866-348-6489

E-mail:

SpiritPathCS@unityonline.org

Website:

www.spiritpathonline.org

Refer to Code:

NAIN G9660625 SPRTRET9 S0043

Name __________________________________

Title ___________________________________

Organization _______________________________

Young Adult? (18-35) Y N

Address ___________________________________

_________________________________________

City ____________________

State/Prov. ______________

Zip/Postal Code ___________

Registration Fee
Room ___ nights @ ___________
Total Room
Total Paid

Check enclosed made payable to Unity Village, or

ð Charge my credit card

Type of Card ______________ MC, Visa, Amex

Card # ________________________ Exp Date _________

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NAINConnect 2009 Final Call for Proposals

We welcome proposals for workshops on exemplary interfaith education programs. To receive a Workshop Proposal Form, please contact Peter Laurence, conference co-chair, at PeterLL@concentric.net. The deadline for proposal submission is March 1^st.

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Research on Spirituality in Higher Education: A Call for Proposals

The Spirituality in Higher Education project at UCLA is now soliciting proposals from investigators who would like to conduct original research using a new and unique national longitudinal data base on undergraduates. Housed at UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) and supported by the John Templeton Foundation, this project has assembled a data base that focuses on students’ spiritual and religious development during the first three undergraduate years. This longitudinal data base, which includes 14,527 students attending 136 institutions of all types, offers a unique opportunity to study a wide range of issues relating to students’ beliefs, values, and spiritual and religious life. The purpose of this competition is to stimulate and encourage the study of students’ spiritual development in higher education by engaging qualified scholars in original research that utilizes these data.

Grants will be awarded to 10-15 recipients in the amount of $10,000-15,000 each. Grants are intended to fund expenses related to research assistance, travel, and other costs associated with the research.

The deadline for receipt of proposals is March 1, 2009. Notifications of awards will be made by April 15, 2009.

For further information concerning the application process and available data, please email spirit@gseis.ucla.edu or go to the website: http://spirituality.ucla.edu/grantproposals/.

Designing Multifaith Prayer Services

From Paul McKenna, Scarboro Missions Interfaith Desk, Toronto

Scarboro Missions is proud to announce this new resource for designing multifaith prayer services.

Multifaith prayer is a growing international phenomenon that yields many spiritual, social and cultural benefits for the various faith groups and individuals involved. But there are a number of religious, cultural and practical challenges involved in organizing multifaith prayer services. This set of comprehensive guidelines provides an abundance of information, resources and guidelines for designing and implementing a multifaith spiritual service in your community.

I have been involved in multifaith prayer activity for more than 20 years. I have long had a goal and a dream of developing a how-to resource for multifaith prayer services. That dream has come to fruition in this document.

Please feel free to forward this document to others or to create a link to it on your website.

This document can be downloaded free of charge. Here is the link:

http://www.scarboromissions.ca/Interfaith_dialogue/multifaith_prayer_service.php

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Golden Rule News

From Paul McKenna, Scarboro Missions Interfaith Desk, Toronto

Arizona has declared itself a golden rule state and interfaith activity there is focused on the golden rule. They are welcoming Flagstaff as a new Golden Rule City. They welcome Golden Rule articles and stories as well. Send to the email listed in the link below.

Upon hearing of this designation, Jeffrey Wattles sent this article on the history of the Golden Rule in Ohio.

http://www.nain.org/news/ohiogoldenrule.pdf

Charter for Compassion

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) started out in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader to bring together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). Each TED Prize winner wins $100,000 plus "One Wish to Change the World."

Karen Armstrong, authority on comparative religions, was one of the 2008 TED winners. Her wish was

“I wish that you would help with the creation, launch and propagation of a Charter for Compassion, crafted by a group of leading inspirational thinkers from the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and based on the fundamental principles of universal justice and respect.”

http://www.tedprize.org/karen-armstrong/##

People of all nations, faiths, and backgrounds submitted their words to the Charter. Now the Council of Sages will take these contributions to write the final document.

By recognizing that the Golden Rule is fundamental to all world religions, the Charter for Compassion can inspire people to think differently about religion. This Charter is being created in a collaborative project by people from all over the world. It will be completed in 2009.

You can take part in the conversation by

o Sharing your own story of compassion. http://charterforcompassion.com/stories

o Nominating religious leaders to sign the Charter. http://www.tedprize.org/contactadmin/?a=pform

o Registering to receive updates and news on other ways to participate.

http://charterforcompassion.com/users/new

The 2009 TED Prize Winners, deep-ocean explorer Sylvia Earle, astronomer Jill Tarter, and maestro Jose Antonio Abreu, will unveil their wishes at TED2009 on February 5, 2009.

Interfaith Trip to Morocco

From Imam Aziz Eddebbarh,, Santa Fe Leadership Alliance

The Santa Fe Leadership Alliance is organizing a trip to Morocco, April 21- 28, 2009, at $2100 roundtrip from New York. Cities visited include Tangiers, Rabat, Fez and Casablanca. Intercity travel is by air-conditioned bus. It is not too late to register. Details may be found at http://www.nain.org/news/moroccotrip09.pdf or by contacting Imam Aziz at 795-3230 or aeddebbarh@hotmail.com.

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Media Briefs

Judy Lee Trautman, NAIN Communications Chair and NAINews Editor

2009 Multifaith Calendar

Handy guide for planning all your interfaith events!

It’s not too late to order your 2009 Multifaith Calendar which identifies and explains observances for 14 major world religions and 140 significant religious and cultural occasions. Go to: www.interfaithmarketplace.com or call 1.877.525.8883. This calendar is an excellent educational resource for: faith communities, institutions, offices, and the family home. Retails for $13.95 plus $4.00 s/h. For wholesale quantity discounts, click on the tab along the top of the home page.

APA to Host Symposium on Religion and Conflict

Part of the ‘Visions in Conflict’ series, midyear conference of American Psychological Association Division 36 Psychology of Religion will host a symposium addressing RELIGION and CONFLICT. The symposium takes place April 3-4 2009 at Loyola College, Maryland USA.

http://www.apa.org/divisions/div36/Conference/homepage.html

APA Division 36 Psychology of Religion invites theologians, psychologists, and other religious professionals to participate by addressing ways to mediate conflicting religious visions.

Chicago Event Sponsored by CPWR

Eboo Patel

Acts of Faith: Interfaith Leadership in a Time of Religious Crisis

Eboo Patel will discuss how interfaith leadership is crucial in this current time of religious turmoil through presenting readings and stories from his book, Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation.

Millions of religious young people across the world are interacting with greater frequency. That interaction tends either toward conflict or cooperation. Where so many of these interactions tend towards conflict, the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) aims to introduce a new relationship, one that is about mutual respect and religious pluralism. Instead of focusing the dialogue on political or theological differences, IFYC builds relationships on the values that we share and is creating these relationships across the world by inspiring, networking and resourcing young people, who are the leaders of this movement. IFYC provides young people and the institutions that support them with leadership training, project resources and a connection to the broader movement.

Location: Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, 610 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605

Time: Thursday, February 26, 2009, 12 - 1:30 p.m.

Details:

A Kosher, vegetarian lunch will be catered by Wolfgang Puck. $30 in advance or $35 at the door

R.S.V.P. by February 19, 2009

Please include your first and last name, full contact information, the best time to contact you by phone and the number of tickets you are requesting. Tickets are limited, so register today!

Contact: luncheon@parliamentofreligions.org 312-629-2990 ext. 227

Next Luncheon

Don't miss our next luncheon featuring Rev. Dirk Ficca, Executive Director of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, "Our Common Responsibility for the Earth and for Each Other," April 7, 2009.

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Reminder to Be Part of the World's Largest Interfaith Event

By Grove Harris, NAIN Board and Program Director for the Parliament of the World’s Religions

Melbourne, Australia -- December 3-9, 2009

CALL FOR PROGRAMS

http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/index.cfm?n=7&sn=6

Submit a proposal to present a program or presentation at the Parliament by February 28, 2009.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/index.cfm?n=26

The deadline for early bird registration is February 28, 2009.

Edinburgh Celebrates Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace

From Saturday 28 February – Sunday 15 March 2009 the 6th Annual Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace, MESP 2009, will bring together people from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds, people working with peace, conflict, reconciliation and justice, educators, teachers, scholars and students, people from artistic and cultural backgrounds, people working with health, wellbeing and healing experiences and concerns, people from diverse cultures, traditions and communities, and people from across Scotland and internationally. There is also a Film Festival from January 31 – February 19 and Pre-Events from February 19 – February 27. See http://www.mesp.org.uk/ for details and online ticket sales.

Blog Briefs

By Judy Lee Trautman, NAIN Communications Chair, Co-Chair MultiFaith Council of NW Ohio

The Heathen Marley's Journal - A Leap

Blog recommend by Bill Lescher and Bettina Gray

Marley Klaus, a former 60 MINUTES producer was raised outside any religious tradition, yet felt a deep sense of need to explore a personal spiritual path that had not been encouraged by her family. In the face of her own children’s questions and “a world war over issues of faith” she took a leap and started exploring Hindu and Buddhist teachings and teachers. In October 2008 she started this blog which is taken from her notes. It is an unpretentious and honest chronicling of a personal journey.

Here is her post following the Mumbai attacks:

Mumbai

Does this really have anything to do with faith? With religion? If someone robs a bank but says the devil made him do it, or Jesus, or God, a jury sees that for what it is and convicts him. We don't blame the faith the bank robber happened to choose to use as an excuse for his indefensible acts, right?

In the middle of the chaos, Mumbai still under siege, a woman interviewed on the radio pleaded for all people of faith not to use this crisis to pull apart from each other but to join together, to use it to rise above, to see what we share not what divides us. I hope her voice is heard and her prayers are answered.

You can browse other entries at http://marleytheheathen.blogspot.com/

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Obama's Interfaith Score Card

Matthew Weiner posts an interesting blog entry in the Huffington Post called Obama's Interfaith Score Card. Weiner is the Program Director at the Interfaith Center of New York. He recently defended his dissertation at Union Theological Seminary, where he studied public religion, and is currently writing a book about interfaith and civil society.

He gives President Obama a “B”, or an “A for effort”. He applauds the inaugural service at the National Cathedral as the first real religiously plural function of its kind. He applauds the inclusion of a Muslim woman, an Orthodox Rabbi, a Hindu, and a diverse selection of Christian pastors. He criticizes the lack of Buddhist, Native American, African American Muslim and other representatives of the many diverse faiths of the U. S.

You may find the complete blog at

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-weiner/obamas-interfaith-score-c_b_160128.html

Read the Spirit.com: Interfaith Heroes

David Crumm, former religion editor of the Detroit Free Press, has created an online publishing portal at www.readthespirit.com. For the second year he has devoted the month of January to daily Interfaith Heroes.

This year’s list is

January 1: Pope John Paul II.	January 17: Thomas Merton.
January 2: Baruch Tenembaum.	January 18: Mohandas Gandhi.
January 3: The Dalai Lama.	January 19: Martin Luther King Day!
January 4: Chiara Lubich.	January 20: Aung San Suu Kyi.
January 5: Ephraim Isaac.	January 21: E. Stanley Jones.
January 6: Rabbi David Rosen.	January 22: Irena Sendler.
January 7: Sri Ramakrishna.	January 23: Dervis Kerkut.
January 8: Hazrat Inayat Khan.	January 24: Corrie ten Boom.
January 9: Juliet Garretson Hollister.	January 25: Masahisa Goi.
January 10: Hans Kung.	January 26: Richard St. Barbe Baker.
January 11: Ashoka the Great.	January 27: Thich Nhat Hanh.
January 12: Queen Isabella & King John.	January 28: Karim Al-Hussayni, Aga Khan IV.
January 13: Haym Salomon.	January 29: Patricia Smith Melton.
January 14: John Leland.	January 30: Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne.
January 15: Kabir.	January 31: Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye.
January 16: Evelyn Underhill.

You can read about these thirty-one heroes and nominate a hero for next year at

http://www.readthespirit.com/interfaith_heroes/ Back to Contents

Book Review - Interfaith through the Lifespan

By Rob Hankinson, Chaplain in Edmonton, Canada, NAIN Board of Directors

A number of interfaith resources have come NAIN’s way these past few months: Mark Tompkins and Jennifer McMahon’s Illuminations. Expressions of the personal spiritual experience; Sarah Feinbloom’s film, What do you believe? The religious and spiritual lives of teenagers; and Carolyn Pogue’s A world of faith. Introducing spiritual traditions to teens. Although each resource in its primary focus addresses a specific stage in our human development, there is much to commend about each regardless of the generational cohorts of the intended audiences.

Mr. Tompkins and Ms. McMahon have artfully assembled poems, prayers, prose, paintings, photographs, vignettes and interviews from a variety of religious traditions from around the globe to “address questions that arise about spirituality” (Tompkins). McMahon notes that “Illuminations sprang from the desire to examine [these] questions that are universal and timeless, and then follow the process as it leads along the spiritual journey…[in order that we] begin to make sense of the world and explore the differences between you and me, self and other.”

The results of Tompkins and McMahon’s enterprise are creatively and intentionally presented around six themes: The questions; Following a path; Dark times; Beauty and mystery; Rites and religion; and Divine discourse. The various entries offer profound, poignant and precious insights into “moments of illumination” (McMahon).

For reasons that I am only beginning to fathom at this stage on my journey, I was especially touched (illuminated?) by Veneta Mason’s “My grandmother prays”:

It bothered my brother

that she whispered her

nightly prayers

loud enough to hear

from the other beds

in the small dark room…

…and then, like a child

she’d begin to bless

generations of kin.

Bless Marion

Bless Robert and Billy

Bless Nancy and Susan

Debbie and Todd.

Who’s she trying to impress?

my brother asked with youthful disdain.

Well I don’t mind, so shush!

I said

lying quite still

as I listened for my name.

Listening is critical when watching Ms. Feinbloom’s DVD What do you believe? Although a recent addition to our library, the DVD was produced in 2004. The film’s interviews of Buddhist, Muslim, Pagan, Native American, Jewish, and Catholic teens introduce provocative, stereotype-challenging insights into adolescent spiritual development. A host of pronouncements and observations are freely made:

“Teenagers say, ‘God is so much a part of my life’.”

“Belief is a great kaleidoscope.”

“God is more important than Mum.”

“I needed something, and God is the only way you can change.”

“Without God, I’d be lost.”

“Whatever your path is, is your path.”

“There is tolerance but not acceptance of other religions in our country.”

“It makes me happy to have a religion.”

“When I will be touched by God, I’ll know it.”

“To understand suffering, is to understand life.”

“There is more to life than sex, TV, fancy food and lots of money; we are to reach a higher state of mind.”

“Respect others and they will respect you.”

“It’s a good feeling to know where you are coming from.”

As noted on the DVD cover, What do you believe? paints “a broad picture of the spiritual lives of youth while delving deeply into the issues that are at the heart of being human.” Indeed! This DVD is a resource for keeping a heartfelt dialogue going, especially with those often considered to be journeying in the wilderness.

Ms. Pogue’s book, A world of faith also addresses the matter of spiritual traditions and adolescence. Ms. Pogue has prepared an interfaith primer particularly but not exclusively for use by teenagers. Though the volume would of interest to people of all ages from all faith traditions and none, it derives much of its wisdom and insight from nine teenagers whom Pogue interviewed and to whom she dedicates her book.

The Goddess tradition, Aboriginal spirituality, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Baha’i faith are all surveyed, with chapter introductions and closings taken from the “Green Rule” and the “Golden Rule” interfaith posters. A Foreword from Prince El Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan introduces the peace building concern that underscores much of the book: “Understanding of another’s spiritual traditions is a step toward achieving a more peaceful world” (p. 11).

Also manifestly evident is a concern for ecological justice: “Humans everywhere have always been connected by wind, water and soil,” says Ms. Pogue in her introduction. By way of conclusion, she declares:

The world needs people who care about our global neighbourhood. In the name of all that we declare holy, how can we help each other to make earth clean and safe for generations to come? What sacred stories of hope can you tell me? What stories of courage can I share with you? (p. 16).

Each chapter follows a pattern of exploring stories and traditions, rites of passage, rituals and ceremonies. Like What do you believe? this book is engaging and informative. Like Illuminations it is richly illustrated. Unique to its own purpose however, are chapters on multifaith dialogue; a brief overview of interfaith networks in North America and worldwide; and even the apocryphal Hindu tale of the blind people and the elephant. One appendix offers an intergenerational, cross-cultural conversation about religion and peace – a powerful model for all who wish to continue to pursue the honourable, life-sustaining path to peace, justice and compassion.

NAINews welcomes suggestions of print, video and online resources that can be commended to all committed to promoting cultures of peace in a troubled world.

Tompkins, M. & McMahon, J. (2006). Illuminations. Expressions of the personal spiritual experience. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.

Feinbloom, S. (2002). What do you believe? The religious and spiritual lives of teenagers. Harriman, NY: New Day Films.

Pogue, C. (2007) A world of faith. Introducing spiritual traditions to teens. Kelowna, BC: Copperhouse.

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Wisdom Corner

By Dr. Teja Singh

I believe this selection from Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore is timely and resonates the new global era starting with the inauguration of the new US President.

'My country' in this poem represents any country in our world where such message is needed.

Mind Without Fear

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;

Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been broken up

into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason

has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action---

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Tentative Schedule

CONFERENCE FEES

Room & Board*

2009 Multifaith Calendar

Handy guide for planning all your interfaith events!

Acts of Faith: Interfaith Leadership in a Time of Religious Crisis

Next Luncheon

CALL FOR PROGRAMS

REGISTER TO ATTEND

The Heathen Marley's Journal - A Leap

Mumbai

Obama's Interfaith Score Card

Read the Spirit.com: Interfaith Heroes

Mind Without Fear