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TORONTO
AND
AREA
EVENTS
The
Toronto
Area Interfaith Council (TAIC)
Annual
Interfaith Breakfast
CEASEFIRE:
DISARM AND ENGAGE OUR YOUTH
GUEST
SPEAKER: The Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo MPP for
Parkdale-Highpark, http://www.cheridinovo.ca/
speaking to our theme.
 We
will also hear from Mishach McNichols, a youth who has moved from the place of being
homeless to the reality of being a Student in the Police
Foundations Course.
We will have opportunity to respond to
questions related to the importance and place of the
diverse interfaith community within the fabric of the
city of
Toronto
and their response to theme of: CEASEFIRE:
DISARM AND ENGAGE OUR YOUTH.
This year the TAIC Annual Breakfast will be
held:
Thursday
June 16th, 2011 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Doors
Open 7:00 am; Registration 7:30 am
Metropolitan
United Church,
56 Queen Street East
Cost
$20/person please
specify dietary requirements.
Make your cheque payable to THE
TORONTO
AREA INTERFAITH COUNCIL.
Mail to: our Registrar: The Rev. Dr. John
Joseph Mastandrea
56
Queen St. East
,
Toronto
,
Ontario
; M5C 2Z3
Please confirm your attendance at the Mayor’s
Breakfast by June 16, 2011. Confirmation can be sent
electronically to Chairperson of the Mayor’s Breakfast
Steering Committee,
the Rev. Dr. John Joseph Mastandrea johnjosephm@metunited.org,
www.metunited.org
Church Phone no. 416-363-0331 ext 24,
fax no. 416-363-7586.
CLICK FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION
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TORONTO
YOUTH
- HIKE & PRAYER: THE GREEN SPIRIT OF THE CITY
Saturday, July 9,
9:30am
 “Faith
Connections invites young adults (18-39) to join us for
a refreshing eco-friendly morning of clean air,
beautiful spaces and good company! We'll be hiking at
the renovated Evergreen Brick Works, a community environmental centre
that inspires and equips visitors to live, work and play
more sustainably. We'll enjoy its surrounding trails and
local farm-fresh foods.
— Meeting
at Broadview
Station (Danforth & Broadview) at
9:30am to take the 9:40 shuttle bus to the Brick
Works.” [Poster
link]
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TORONTO
YORK-NOOR LECTURES
Sat June 18 & Sun.
June 19, 2011
The York-Noor Lecture Series 2010-2011:
Recent Publications on Islam and Muslim Societies
presents:
 “Two
lectures by Professor Muhsin al-Musawi, author of The Islamic Context of the Thousand and
One Nights (Columbia
University Press, 2009)
The Islamic Context of the Thousand
and One Nights
Date:
Sunday June 19, 2011 Time: 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Location:
Auditorium, Noor Cultural Centre Admission:
$5
Panel co-sponsored with Luminato:
Modern Takes on Old Stories
Date:
Saturday June 18, 2011 Time: 4:30 - 6:00 pm Location:Jackman Hall,
Art
Gallery
of
Ontario
Admission:
Free
http://www.luminato.com/2011/moderntakes
Muhsin
al-Musawi is an internationally renowned scholar and literary critic
who joined
Columbia
University
with over 20 years' experience teaching at a number of
institutions in the
Middle East
. Described by The Chronicle of Higher Education as
"one of the Arab world's leading literary
critics," al-Musawi's teaching and research
interests span several periods and genres. He is the
author of 24 books (including four novels) and over 60
scholarly articles.”
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CANADIAN
PREMIERE
http://www.journeyoftheuniverse.org/
Wednesday,
June 15, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
Muzzo
Family Alumni Hall (Room 100)
University
of
St. Michael
’s College,
121 St. Joseph Street
,
Toronto
With
an introduction by two key contributors to the film:
Mary
Evelyn Tucker, Yale University, executive producer and
co-writer
John
Grim, Yale University, special consultant
Followed
by a discussion.
“This film project and companion book is a collaboration of evolutionary
philosopher Brian
Thomas Swimme
and historian of religions Mary
Evelyn Tucker.
They weave a tapestry that draws together
scientific discoveries in astronomy, geology, and
biology with humanistic insights concerning the nature
of the universe.”
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TORONTO
High
Park
Labyrinth joins with World Peace Associates for
WORLD
PEACE FESTIVAL
 Sunday,
June 19, 2011 from 3:00 pm-10:00 pm
Candle-lit
Labyrinth Walk at 9:00 pm
High
Park
(just north of Grenadier Restaurant)
Inquiries:
Cathy Allon
(416) 694-0232
Email:
ccawaken@ca.inter.net
or lutialausane@sympatico.ca
Bring
a blanket, a picnic, your family and friends and your
Hopes and Dreams for World Peace!
“A
Summer Solstice Festival in the Park uniting communities
in the Spirit of Peace, Raising Awareness through Song,
Dance, Poetry, Storytelling, Laughter and
Meditation”
CLICK
FOR MORE INFORMATION
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TORONTO
THE
INTERFAITH MOVEMENT DEEPENS
A
CALL FOR GLOBAL SPIRITUAL CITIZENSHIP
Monday,
July 18, 7:00pm
Inner
Garden
,
401 Richmond St. W.
(at Spadina)
Suite
384
,
Toronto
.
416-537-1413.
www.theinnergarden.ca
All
welcome, suggested donation $10, no one turned away
For
more information, contact Jari Dvorak dvorakj@sympatico.ca
 “Philip
Goldberg will SHARE with us his experiences on the cutting edge
of interfaith and trans-traditional spirituality.
He will challenge us to broaden and deepen the
interfaith movement by turning it “inside out.”
Along the way he will illuminate the profound influence
of
India
’s spiritual teachings on North American religion in
general and interfaith in particular, based on his
extensive research for his new book, AMERICAN VEDA. And
he will share with us A Call For Global Spiritual
Citizenship, building a bridge to our collective
future, www.globalspiritualcitizenship.org. There will be ample opportunity for questions
and for participants to express their views on these
vital matters.”
Philip Goldberg www.philipgoldberg.com
is a spiritual counselor, meditation teacher and
ordained Interfaith Minister. The author or coauthor of
19 books, he lectures and leads workshops throughout the
U.S.
A novelist and screenwriter as well, he lives in
Los Angeles
, where he founded Spiritual Wellness and Healing
Associates (SWAHA). He is Director of Outreach for SpiritualCitizens.net and blogs regularly on the
Huffington Post and ELEPHANT JOURNAL. His latest
book, AMERICAN VEDA: From Emerson and the Beatles to
Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the
West, chronicles the history and influence of
India
's spiritual teachings in
America
. Huffington Post named it one of the top ten books on
religion for 2010.
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TORONTO
FOLLOWING SOUND INTO SILENCE
Saturday June 18 @ 7:00pm
Institute
of
Traditional
Medicine
 553
Queen Street West
2nd floor
Toronto
Suggested Offering: $20
An
evening of music, voice and sacred chants
with
:
Om
Kailash - Sanskrit Chants
Mutamba - Mbira
Michele George -
Voice
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TORONTO
Snow Lion Co-Supported Event
"HAPPINESS,
HEALTH AND RELATIONSHIPS"
 with: Geshe
Michael Roach
Thursday,
June 16th, 2011
Time: 7:00PM to 9:00PM*
$20.00
at the Still Light Centre -
276 Carlaw Ave
(
Ste
209
)
Register at www.diamondcutterinstitute.com
“In
this exciting talk, Geshe Michael will unravel the
Meaning of Life and how it pertains to you personally,
professionally and spiritually. He will ask the
question, "Why are we here?" and work with you
to set your motivation to create the highest return.
Learn how to make the world in which we live sing with
success and grace.”
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TORONTO
SPIRITUAL
DIALOGUE CIRCLE
Location: Don
Heights Unitarian Congregation, 18 Wynford Drive, Suite
102, Toronto, 416-444-8839
 Date: first
Monday of the month, January 2011 to June 2011
Time: 7:00pm
to 8:30pm
Contact: Reverend
Michelle Singh, mailto:michelle_singh@rogers.com
Pre-Registration is Required
"This multi-faith Spiritual Dialogue Circle is committed to bringing
diverse people together for conversation, prayer, sacred
music and meditation. In this Circle, participants are
invited to share readings and experience from their
unique spiritual traditions. We encourage everyone to
share
to
foster peace within ourselves and our world. This is a
safe and open community in which everyone is welcome to
explore, grow and be supported."
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ONTARIO
WIDE EVENTS
WATERLOO
EDUCATION
TO GLOBALIZE THE HUMAN MIND
WATERLOO
,
ONTARIO
CONFERENCE
8:30am July 16 to 5:30pm July 17
Ron
Eydt
Village
, Conference Centre,
University
of
Waterloo
Cost:
July 13 or before $49, students $29;
July 14 and later $69, students $39
Inexpensive meals and residence accommodations available
For Registration:
Call: Shiv at (519) 884-2351 or Shirish at
(519) 279-5718
E-Mail: SHENMeet2011@spiritualeducation.org
On the web: http://guestlistapp.com/events/47145
For details, please
visit:
www.spiritualeducation.org/Events/Info/Meet2011/Frame.htm
 “An
opportunity to collectively explore inclusive education
in universal spirituality for the integration of
humanity both locally and globally:
Shiv Talwar, SHEN Director: Welcome and Opening Address - Exploring Our
Relationship With God
Sandy Westin,
Tennessee
, North American Coordinator, URI:
Globalizing the Human Mind: Think Globally, Act Locally
Rory Dickson,
Wilfred
Laurier
University
: Learn from Ibn 'Arabi and the Sufis to
Globalize Your Heart
Philip Goldberg,
California
, Interfaith Minister and Writer: How Vedanta-Yoga Globalized My Mind, and How It Can
Globalize Others’
Nahed Squires, Social Worker: Walking a spiritual path with practical feet
Professor Darrol Bryant, Director of the Centre for Dialogue and Spirituality in the World
Religions at Renison University College/U.
Waterloo
. : Raids on the Ineffable Or Pointing to the Moon in the World Religions
·
Small group meditations and mindful listening to
each other about the presentations
·
Contemplative
Youth Panel Discussion and film clip
Spiritual Heritage Education Network Inc. (SHEN) is a
Waterloo
,
Ontario
based organization dedicated to the promotion,
development and delivery of education in the spiritual
heritage of humanity to promote human integration both
locally and globally.”
Success of their last
year’s conference encouraged SHEN to organize another
one this year. Here are some quotes from what they said
about it last year:
·
"I lost a
lot of pre-conceived ideas and gained a bit more open
mind and even more open heart”
·
"I have
hugely increased my understanding and appreciation of
other religious traditions. I will be more open minded
now"
·
"The
combination of in-depth presentations with periods of
meditation and discussion to process the material was
very effective"
·
"I am
delighted to know people are working to promote
appreciation of each other, harmony and peace"
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CANADA
WIDE EVENTS
MONTREAL
SECOND
GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON
WORLD’S
RELIGIONS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11
 The
Dalai Lama returns to
Montreal
later this year on September 7, to address the Second
Global Conference On World’s Religions after September
11, which will meet at the Palais des Congrčs, almost
after a decade following the events of 9/11.
Other
renowned speakers include Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin
Ebadi, world-famous author Deepak Chopra, Professor
Tariq Ramadan, and Professor Robert Thurman. Professor
Gregory Baum, recipient of the Order of
Canada
and Swami Dayananda Saraswati will also participate in
the conference.
Under
the theme of “Peace Through Religion”, the one-day
event will include the unveiling of the latest version
of a proposed Universal Declaration of Human Rights by
the World’s Religions, which has been on the anvil
since 1996 and which is designed as a complement to the
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights of
1948.
“The
aim of the conference is to bring together the various
religions of the world in an ecumenical spirit to
address the many issues facing the world today, in the
hope that this will help all of us become better human
beings”, emphasized the convenor of the event, Arvind
Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at the
Faculty of Religious Studies of McGill University.
Panel discussions with the speakers will seek to
generate consensus around two fundamental social and
religious issues:
·
Should a course on world religions also be taught whenever
the confessional study or religion is carried out?
·
Should violating the sanctity of the scripture of any
religion be considered tantamount to violating the
sanctity of the scriptures of all religions?
The
Conference is co-sponsored by
McGill
University
and Université de Montréal.”
Click
here for more information
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VANCOUVER
ZEN MASTER THICH NHAT HANH COMES TO
VANCOUVER
August 8-14
“Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most
beloved and respected Buddhist teachers of our
time. He is also a  peace
activist and environmentalist, who addresses
contemporary issues and teaches how we can engage our
spiritual practice in the world. From August 8-13,
Thich Nhat Hanh will be presenting a residential
mindfulness retreat at UBC. There is a children’s
program as well, so the kids will be taken care of while
parents participate in the retreat. On August 14, he
will be giving a public talk at the Orpheum theatre.
Both events are open to people of all backgrounds, faith
traditions, and levels of experience. Thich Nhat
Hanh’s visit to
Vancouver
is being coordinated by Justin Love, a member of the
Buddhist community that helped out with our Multifaith
Storytime Project with the Surrey Public Library. For
more information about both events, visit www.TNHVancouver2011.org”
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INTERNATIONAL
EVENTS
INTERNATIONAL
Pluralism
Project
SECOND ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST
“We invite you and your students, networks, and organizations to
participate in our second annual Pluralism Project Photo
Contest. We are looking for high-resolution digital
images that convey the vibrancy of religious diversity
in the
USA
. We are particularly interested in images in the
following categories:
*
Religious practices and rituals
* Religious centers, including festivals, center
openings, and parades
* Participation of religious groups in American civic
life
* Interfaith encounter or social action
* Women’s leadership and participation
* Emerging leadership within Muslim and Sikh communities
* Historic and present day images of the
Atheist/Humanist, Bahá’í, Confucian, Native
American, Shinto, Taoist, and Zoroastrian communities in
the
US
One grand-prize winner will be selected; the winning photographer will
receive a $250 cash prize and an extended exposé in the
spotlight on our homepage,
Entries must be submitted via email to contest@pluralism.org
by 5 PM on August 1”
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION GO TO: http://www.pluralism.org.
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INTERNATIONAL
ST. LOUIS
,
MISSOURI
“Problems
cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that
created them.” - Einstein
EUPHRATES
SUMMIT: OUR WORLD BEYOND 9/11
 Friday
and Saturday, October 28 – 29, 2011
at
Principia
College
,
Elsah
,
Illinois
(near
St. Louis
,
Missouri
)
Inquiries:
(202) 503-4634 or info@euphratesinstitute.org
http://euphratesinstitute.org/911-summit/
Registration
opens August 15
“Bin
Laden is gone…The Arab Spring is on…
It’s
time for a new chapter with the
Middle East
.”
2
Days. 3 Sessions. INFORM.
INSPIRE. TRANSFORM.
Keynote
and Pulitzer Prize Winner:
Lawrence
Wright
“A first-of-its-kind gathering for all seeking to
move the world beyond the 9/11 era of clashes to an age
of cooperation. More than a conference, this event
is a meeting of the minds-- thought-leaders,
policymakers, and peacebuilders from around the globe to
share, strategize, and usher in a new way forward.
Part talks and panels, part working sessions, the
summit will feature a dramatic line-up of visionaries
and experts.” CLICK
FOR MORE INFORMATION
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INTERNATIONAL
RELIGIOUS
LEADERS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT BETWEEN TERROR AND
TOLERANCE
http://religionandconflict.org/rc2/
Project Summary
The Center for Sustainable Development and International Peace at
the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of
International Studies conducted a project from 2007-2010
on the theme of religion, conflict, and peacemaking in
deeply divided societies, supported by the Henry Luce
Foundation’s Initiative on Religion in International
Affairs. The project unfolded in a research track, a
policy dialogue track, and a curriculum development
track. …
…
The Research
The project involves a research track that yielded the edited
volume Between
Terror and Tolerance: Religious Leaders and Conflict
Management in Deeply Divided Societies
(Timothy D. Sisk, ed.; Forthcoming, Georgetown
University Press, 2011).
The book presents the research and findings of an international
team of scholars regarding religious leaders’ roles in
the thematic and case-study chapters. The volume
explores how religious leaders in divided societies
interpret the relationships among religious doctrines
and human rights (to include group or minority rights);
defining exclusive and inclusive national identities;
articulate the connections among religion, state
control, and state policy; rhetorically justifying
and/or mobilizing for war or in undermining pursuit of
violence by political elites; and religious leaders’
participation in peace processes.
The research features case studies from several major
conflict-affected countries, including
Iraq
,
Israel
and
Palestine
,
Lebanon
,
Northern Ireland
,
Sri Lanka
,
South Africa
, and
Tajikistan
. The concluding chapter presents the integrated
findings of the research and draws the implications for
policies and programs of the United Nations and
international non-governmental organizations in seeking
to promote and enhance the capacity of religious leaders
to promote tolerance and coexistence.
The
Curriculum Materials
A third track of the project focuses on education in religion and
international affairs and the development of new
upper-division undergraduate and graduate-level course
materials. This work features six new course modules for
under development by the
Josef
Korbel
School
Center
in collaboration with the Conflict Resolution Institute
at the
University
of
Denver
and the Iliff School of Theology. The curriculum unit
themes are:
A more detailed Table
of Contents regarding these materials is also
available, as well as additional
information on religion and conflict topics from
news sources and from the Web.
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NORTH AMERICAN INTERFAITH
ASSOCIATION NETWORK
Member Showcase:
Scarboro Missions,
Toronto
“…from Paul McKenna, Scarboro Missions Interfaith Dept.,
Toronto
,
Ontario
In this short but poignant article, Canadian dialogue
theologian, Fr. Ovey Mohammed S.J., outlines the
Catholic Church's evolving historical stance toward
other religions. Before the Second Vatican Council of
the 1960s, the Church's attitude toward other religions
was negative. Since the Council, the Church's attitude
has ...”
READ
THE COMPLETE ARTICLE
MORE
NAIN SHOWCASES OF INTERFAITH PRACTICES
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CALL
FOR SUBMISSIONS
ONTARIO
MULTIFAITH
COUNCIL ON SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS CARE 2011 EDUCATIONAL
CONFERENCE
CALL
FOR PRESENTATIONS
Theme:
Diverse Voices: Building Bridges
WHEN:
Monday and Tuesday, September 26 – 27, 2011
WHERE:
Salvation Army Conference Centre,
Jackson
’s Point,
Ontario
 “This
year’s conference will feature talks by Regional Chief
Angus Toulouse, of the Chiefs of
Ontario
and Dr. Cynthia Wesley Esquimaux, member of the Chippewa
of Georgina Island First Nation and Liberal Candidate
for York-Simcoe. Workshop
presentations illustrating the diversity of religious
experiences among
Ontario
’s faith groups will help spiritual and religious
caregivers in health, corrections, youth, long term
care, mental health and members of allied occupations,
to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the
spirituality and faith practices of Ontario’s faith communities.
REQUEST:
We are seeking proposals for presentations in the
form of workshops, seminars, audio-visual and live
demonstrations by groups and
individuals.
These
presentations should be approximately 45 minutes in
length with an additional 30 minutes for
discussion.
PROPOSAL
REQUIREMENTS:
Limit your proposal to a maximum of 500 words and
an introductory page with the title of your
presentation, presenter(s) name(s), presenter(s)
affiliated organization, address, email, phone numbers,
space required for visual display and AV equipment
requirements.”
For full
details: Click here for the
CALL
FOR PRESENTATIONS
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HISTORY
AND INTER-RELIGIOUS ENCOUNTER:
CALL
FOR ARTICLES SUBMISSIONS
 http://irdialogue.org/submissions/
""There
is no surer basis for fanaticism than bad history, which
is invariably history oversimplified," notes
Diarmaid MacCulloch. Is
the history of religious encounter largely one of
disagreement and violence? How have sacred histories
created – or closed off – possibilities for
engagement between religions? What can the past tell us
about the possibilities and perils of
current efforts at dialogue? The
Journal
of Inter-Religious Dialogue
seeks
articles
from students and scholars
of history and religion to shed light on these and other
questions. Case-studies are particularly welcome, but
pieces with broader focuses will also be
considered."
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RESOURCES
TOOL
KIT
HONOURING
DIVERSE BELIEFS IN OUR COMMUNITIES:
A CONVERSATIONAL TOOLKIT
“From
Atheism to Zoroastrianism, people draw on different
belief systems to guide the ways they think and act.  How
can we respond to this important element of diversity in
our communities? What are the risks involved? What do we
stand to gain?
“Honouring
Diverse Beliefs in Our Communities:
A
Conversational Toolkit”
is a documentary project that adopts a child-centered
approach to responding to diverse beliefs in community.
The Toolkit outlines a multi-format workshop designed to
engage participants in active learning and dialogue.
The
project is a partnership between the Surrey
Neighbouring Faiths Program, Himar
Productions, and DIVERSEcity
Community Resources Society. It was made possible
with funding from the Government of Canada and the
Province
of
British Columbia
.
The
documentary can be viewed online at: http://vimeo.com/22148547.
For more information and to receive a PDF copy of the
Toolkit, please contact David Dalley, Production
Coordinator at davidanderin@dalley.ca
or (604) 502-8661.”
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THE
SPRING 2011 ISSUE OF THE
ONTARIO
MULTIFAITH
COUNCIL
NEWSLETTER IS NOW AVAIL
ABLE.
 You
may download it by clicking on the following link:
http://www.omc.ca/newsletter.html
For
those of you who have difficulty opening the files
online please send an email to newsletter@omc.ca
with your address and we will see that you receive a
copy of this and each subsequent issue by mail.
Please
note that if you have already requested the newsletter
be sent you by surface mail, you can expect to receive
it in the next week or so.
Please
send us your comments, suggestions and proposed content
for future newsletters.
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ESSAY
MUSLIM
WOMEN ARE AT THE CROSSROADS
- between freedom and oppression
 Women's
rights is one of the key aspects in the fight back against
Islamism - but are they being empowered enough?
Raheel
Raza writing in The Commentator - Thursday 02 June 2011 12:36:00
“Muslim
women are at the crossroads - between freedom and
oppression A UN Arab Human Development Report called
'Towards the Rise of Women in the Arab World, ' points out
that “an Arab renaissance cannot and will not be
accomplished unless the obstacles preventing women from
enjoying their human rights and contributing more fully to
development are eliminated and replaced with greater
access to the “tools” of development.” Today, six
years down the road an appalling lack of human rights and
development are manifest in many stories related to Muslim
women, not just...”
READ
THE FULL STORY
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Chil
dren of Abraham
“That
you may know one another…..”
 The
International Conference of Christians and Jews in
Istanbul
last June brought together people of Jewish, Christian,
and Muslim faith traditions engaged in interreligious
dialogue
By Sr. Lucy Thorson, NDS
- March/April 201
“Last
summer, Sr. Lucy Thorson NDS, of the Scarboro Missions
Interfaith Department, attended the annual conference of
the International Conference of Christians and Jews (ICCJ)
which took place in
Istanbul
,
Turkey
.
Muslims were also invited to participate and present
at the conference.”
CLICK
HERE TO Read
Lucy Thorson's report on the gathering
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ONLINE INTERFAITH MEDIA:
ODYSSEY NETWORKS’ JOURNEY
 by
Rev. Eric C. Shafer
Odyssey Networks
“It was 1987 and
America
was riveted by the “televangelist”
scandals—celebrity TV ministries collecting millions of
dollars in donations that ended up supporting their own
lavish lifestyles. In response, the leaders of the
cable industry met with major
US
faith leaders, all determined to restore the integrity of
faith on television. Together they founded the
National Interfaith Cable Coalition (NICC) and underwrote
what would become its Odyssey Channel, giving the new
interfaith offering carriage on cable systems throughout
the
United States
.
Fast forward to
2011: Today the media is not plagued by scandal but
fueled by it. “Controversy sells.” In
religion this means an emphasis on conflict rather than
cohesion, strife rather than working together.”
Click
here to read the full article...
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NEWS
NEWS
–
New York
U.N.
COMMISSION DISCUSSES ETHICS BEHIND
THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
 New
York
,
NY
– “Focusing solely on the material aspects of the
environmental crisis, while ignoring its moral and
ethical dimensions, will not ensure humanity's long term
survival.
That
was among the perspectives under discussion at this
year's UN Commission on Sustainable Development, held
from 2–13 May.
"We
have passed beyond the global tipping point that we have
been anticipating for decades," Jeffrey Sachs –
director of the Earth Institute and a special adviser to
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – told the Commission
on 11 May.
A
panel discussion – also held on 11 May and sponsored
by the Baha'i International Community – sought to
explore ways in which cultural, educational, and
spiritual components can be brought into the sustainable
development discourse.
Titled "Making the Invisible Visible: Values and
the Transition to Sustainable Consumption and
Production", the panel was moderated by Duncan
Hanks of the Canadian Baha'i International Development
Agency.
…panellists…offered thoughts about ways that the
consideration of values can be brought into discussions
about sustainable consumption and production, in order
to motivate the changes in human behaviour needed to
sustain life on the planet.”
CLICK
TO READ THE FULL STORY
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Claremont
School of Theology
$50 MILLION GIFT CREATES INTERFAITH SCHOOL
FOR CLERGY
By Ryan E. Smith for
Jewish Journal.com
May 16, 2011
“Three regional religious institutions
are taking the next big step in a unique partnership to
teach Christian, Jewish and Muslim spiritual leaders,
thanks to a historic $50 million gift.
Claremont School of Theology on Monday
announced the donation from philanthropists David and
Joan Lincoln  —
the largest in the school’s history — which will
establish
Claremont
Lincoln
University
. In a cooperative effort with the Academy for Jewish
Religion,
California
(
AJR
,
CA
) and the Islamic Center of Southern California, it will
include a consortium of professional graduate schools
for religious education.
The seeds of the project were made
public last year with the announcement that the
Lincolns
pledged $10 million towards what was then called the
“University Project.” Now the Lincolns, an Arizona
couple whose family fortune was built on arc welding and
electric motor inventions in the early 1900s, are adding
$40 million so that future religious leaders from
different faiths have opportunities to study side by
side.
“Joan and I are particularly pleased
with the idea of creating a multi-faith university that
reflects the power and potential of the ‘Golden
Rule,’ which the many faith communities have in
common,” David Lincoln, a member of the Claremont
board of trustees, said in a statement.
“We believe the outcome of this kind
of education will be tolerance and respect among
religions and the ability to better address global
problems where religious cooperation and cooperating are
needed to reach solutions and repair the world.”…
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NEWS
- New York/Paris
U.N.
LAUNCHES FACEBOOK CAMPAIGN TO ‘DO ONE
THING FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION’
New
York/Paris, May 19, 2011 – “To mark the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity, UNESCO
and the UN Alliance of  Civilizations
(UNAOC) are launching a global campaign to create a
grassroots movement of people who advocate for
diversity. The campaign calls on individuals to take one
action relevant to their lives that promotes diversity
and inclusion--from experiencing another culture through
film, food, or museums, to learning about other cultures
or countries, or dedicating time to volunteer for that
cause.
The campaign, “Do ONE Thing for Diversity and
Inclusion”, will work via a dedicated Facebook
page, serving as a platform for people around the
world to share their experiences through posts and
videos. The campaign has already won the support and
participation of several major corporations from
Silicon Valley
, including Cisco, Intuit, True Blue Inclusion, McAfee,
and Yahoo, among others. From diversity councils and
employee resource groups, to cross-cultural training,
these companies aim to mobilize their employees to build
a worldwide movement which, every year will celebrate
diversity.
‘New technologies have fundamentally changed the way
we communicate and get to know each other,’ said
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. ‘What better way
to celebrate diversity and inclusion than by using
Facebook, Twitter and all of the new social networks
that are breaking through barriers and connecting people
everywhere – especially the young, who are
clearly today’s drivers of change.’
Along with the corporate partners, hundreds of NGOs and
foundations are also joining the campaign, that brings
alive the values enshrined in UNESCO’s Universal
Declaration on Cultural Diversity and which will
culminate at the occasion of the Alliance of
Civilizations Fourth Annual Forum in Doha, Qatar on
December 11-13, 2011, where the campaign will show
global public support for cultural diversity and
inclusion to world leaders.”
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
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NEWS
–
Boston
‘GOLDEN
AGE’ FOR CHRISTIAN-JEWISH RELATIONS:
Centre
for Christian-Jewish Learning promotes interreligious
dialogue, research
By
Ed Hayward – The Chronicle (
Boston
College
)
Source: The
Boston College Chronicle, 4-28-11
Boston
,
MA
, April
28, 2011
– “As Kraft Family Professor James Bernauer, SJ,
explains it, the study of Jewish-Christian relations has
entered its Golden Age.
BC’s Center
for Christian-Jewish Learning, which Fr. Bernauer
directs, is playing a key role in the growing dialogue  and
body of scholarship in this area of study that draws on
experts from multiple academic disciplines.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary year, the center has
sponsored numerous events that have brought scholars from
across the globe to campus to examine some of the most
pressing issues in the field of Jewish-Christian relations
including last month’s conference ‘Are Jews and
Christians Living in a Post-Polemical World? Toward a
Comparison of Medieval and Modern Christian-Jewish
Encounters.’ An endowed visiting professorship has
brought leading scholars to BC to teach, research and
collaborate with their peers.
‘We are becoming a real center for scholarly
analysis,’ said Fr. Bernauer. ‘What we are aiming for
now is to combine both service to students with our
service to the broader scholarly world.’
Through a series of new projects, the center has
incorporated additional opportunities for graduate and
undergraduate students to participate in center activities
and learn from leading scholars.
Fr. Bernauer says it is crucial for the field to encourage
young students and scholars, lest this Golden Age succumb
to a challenge posed by shifting demographics: many of the
scholars who have led the field since the end of World War
II are nearing their “golden years.”
‘This is a veteran group of scholars engaged in
understanding and encouraging Christian-Jewish
dialogue,’ says Bernauer. ‘They have come out of the
post-Holocaust and post-Vatican II eras. One of the real
challenges is to pass this dialogue down to the younger
generation.’”
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INSPIRATION
What
is serious to men is often very trivial in the sight of
God. What in God might appear to us as
"play" is perhaps what He Himself takes most
seriously. At any rate the Lord plays and diverts
Himself in the garden of His creation, and if we could let
go of our own obsession with what we think is the meaning
of it all, we might be able to hear His call and follow
Him in His mysterious, cosmic dance. We do not have
to go very far to catch echoes of that game, and of that
dancing. When we are alone on a starlit night; when
by change we see the migrating birds in autumn descending
on a grove of junipers to rest and eat; when we see
children in a moment when they are really children; when
we know love in our own hearts; or when, like the Japanese
poet Basho we hear an old frog land in a quiet pond with a
solitary splash - at such times the awakening, the turning
inside out of all values, the "newness," the
emptiness and the purity of vision that make themselves
evident, provide a glimpse of the cosmic dance.
Thomas
Merton
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