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"The Spirit of Peace Building"Recipients of the Interfaith-Intercultural Certificate
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The following is the list of participants that have earned this certificate. To read their final statements and reflections about the series, CLICK HERE or on individual names below. |
From Hope Joyce Atkinson:
To have quests of such religious and cultural diversity made clear the advance into religious pluralism that is ever more apparent and broadening in global awareness. And it is good to be reminded of the words of Hans Kung, "There can be no peace among the nations until there is peace among religions.". For those of us still working in small communities that are still bound in fundamentalists fears all signs of encouragement and opportunities to learn more effective ways of communication are most helpful. All that leads us to the common ground of shared values and ever expanding compassion is good. Ever grateful for the grace.
From Marilyn Joy Avery:
The most helpful concept I learned in the conference calls was changing the old "redemptive violence" for restorative justice. When I first wrote this down, I wrote redemptive justice, but that is not a bad concept either. It is a comforting thought that we are redeemed by doing acts of justice. Because we are human we "sin" or miss the mark (the literal interpretation of sin). But, because we can, we must perpetuate justice whenever and where ever we can. I have heard that idea over and over again from the Muslim Prayer group I now attend. We are now working together to start a Community Garden with the Quakers and the Tulsa Peace Fellowship to join us. We are also trying to save our building. It is an ongoing struggle. But such is life, right?
From Lorraine Del-Rose:
What inspires me most about the interreligious/intercultural dialogue is the wide range of speakers and clear examples and explanations offered in your program. It has been my experience throughout the Season for Peace and Nonviolence to appreciate the differences/similarities all religions. I can see clearly from my point of view that after being exposed to new ideas and thoughts an awareness comes over me that assures me that we all come from the same source, with the same wants and needs. We are not different from each other, we merely express ourselves differently due to logistics, education, tradition, religious beliefs, and langue, as well as which government one is under. One can only change one’s thoughts and behavior when given the tools to do so and then the world can change, one person at a time. I have a greater appreciation for humanity as a whole after experiencing Season for Nonviolence. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I enjoyed the season very much.
From Rebecca Edwards:
I was vey moved by the conversation about the compassionate view of restorative justice, and how it does no good to punish with death when the conditions that created the perpetrator's crimes are left in place. It makes so much sense, and my prayer is that this will continue to become more obvious to political leaders. The entire series was hugely inspiring to me and I feel encouraged about healing taking place where communities are at odds.
From Dr. Craig Haley:
Dialogue is fundamental to change. Without it, as enlightened as we may think we are, we may remain imprisoned within our own belief systems. Intercultural/Interreligious dialogue melts the bars and barriers that we trick ourselves into believing separate us. They are persistent reminders that we only imagine separation when there can be none. Side by side, all faiths celebrate the Light. It is those similar rays of light that unite us beyond imagined separation. It is, through discourse, a shared Light as opposed to a ‘respective’ one.
From Dr. Kris Lecakes Haley:
I have always felt that discord is failed diplomacy --- locally and globally. Diplomacy begins with dialogue. Once we begin to listen to each other --- listen with our HEARTS --- we see our perceived divisions fall away as the shadows that they are and we begin to focus more on how we are alike rather than how we are different. We suddenly begin to hear more of what we have in common than what separates us. We begin to celebrate the similarities and smile at how our differences suddenly seem a mere shadow of their original perception. Interreligious/Intercultural dialogue is a living example of the Oneness. While we do know that, in reality, we have more in common than we don’t, this course allowed us to feel it.
From Rev. Lorene Klein
I am grateful connecting with an on-line community belonging to a bigger sense of shared learning from people in the field. Our many interesting interviewees shared a wealth of knowledge that has impacted me. I expanded my knowledge as I particularly listened to the Reverend Marcus Braybrooke who I am eagerly awaiting to read his work. I loved his message that religion exist at various levels of consciousness. As I help to feed the hungry at my local soup kitchen, going on 4 years now, I do have the ability to reach across the divide. I meet people of all faiths and do share a deep personal experience that connects at the basic human level of survival. I work at the Mary Brennan INN on Long Island, New York. INN stands for Interfaith Nutritional Network. I carry a true heart connection with many of our “guests” as I am active in my local community.
From Joan LaMontagne:
I found the course profound because the speakers could share with us their first-hand experience of dealing with problems of peace on an international level, as well as demonstrating by their experiences on the Peace Counsel the warmth that develops across international boundaries from personal experience. I enjoyed your and Jim’s comments, and each class was enhanced by reading the significant writings provided, including the excerpts from “Sea Change”. Because I was not holding a group myself, I soon found that the Thursday meeting was too much imput for me during one week. Most personally meaningful for me was Father Keating’s presentation. Although I was eager to hear Sister Chittister, her way of speaking was difficult for me. I appreciated Dr. Nahid’s wide knowledge about Islam which brought questions to my mind to know more. I also found the last presenter, Rabbi Levi, Weiman-Kelman, was very encouraging to me, as I have always been interested in the Abraham Walk.
Thanks for the deepening and broadening experience this class has been to me.
From Kendra Langeteig:
What inspires me about the interfaith-intercultural dialogue is the promise it clearly holds for activating positive change unlike anything we’ve known. The global community seems poised and eager for a cultural-spiritual transformation of the magnitude envisioned by the spiritual leaders in the teleseries. Signs of an increasingly compassionate and aware humanity – people tired of the old narratives and ready to “be the change” – show that our time is ripe for conscious evolution, and would seem to confirm “the birth of a new global citizenship,” as Jim Kenney suggests. We could hardly have received stronger evidence of this shifting terrain than in the global upheavals we witnessed while in the very midst of the teleseries: Egypt’s revolt against political injustice, followed by the earth’s cry for environmental justice in Japan’s tsunami – “mother nature’s 9-11 call,” as Hyun-Kyung put it. Whereas 2012 doomsayers read these crises as the inevitable planetary meltdown, those of spirit and vision see potential for energizing a more humane consciousness. “Now more than ever,” observed Paul Knitter, “we have the opportunity and urgency to work together for greater resolution.” For what remains in the wake of such miraculous events, witnessed by millions in the online global community, is a chilling recognition of the fragility of our existence as well as the constructed nature of the institutions that produce the conditions for injustice – reason enough for us to forget our differences and pull together for the common good. The challenge for many is to move beyond the horrified fascination, fear, and numb detachment induced by a corporate-sponsored hyperreality (and see the truth twitter across the “great firewall”), not to mention the difficulty of giving up the false security of our egoistic attachments. With greater awareness of our connection and shared humanity comes the realization that “our own transformation is related to everybody else’s,” as Reverend Thomas Keating observed. But the consensus of opinion among these peacemakers is that we won’t develop the hopes for our planet “unless we are on a very spiritual path” (Chittister), and continue to “build bridges” with our “shared understanding” of the ultimate reality that unites us (Braybrooke). For this cultural-spiritual evolution to manifest, “the heart of compassion must be made open” (Beckwith), and we’ll need everyone fully on board to “bend the arc…toward justice” (MLK). This vision is powerful, and I feel encouraged by the passionate commitment of these interfaith movement leaders to show us the way.
From Phill McNabb:
The dialogue has further awakened me to points of view of inter-religious and intercultural faiths. I believe, when enough people have been awakened and embraced enough about each others faiths and cultures; we will ask the right questions, and Treat accordingly to the divine solutions for Peace. It will be done.
Thank you, and I look forward more insights from this amazing group that I can share with my extended group.
From Rev. Joe Niemiec:
During the last call of The Spirit of Peacebuilding Teleseries , when Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman said there was no answer to the quandary in the Middle East, that I experienced an epiphany.
This work is not about conclusion or achieving great results; this work is about doing the work. Having been goal orientated all my life I realized that while you keep the goal in site it is just that, a goal. The important part of a human’s life is not as much what was achieved but rather what was attempted. There is so much forward movement in race consciousness that is not recognized because we are focused on results. I believe that although humanity’s evolution is unrecognized it is much more important than mere measurable goals.
From Rev. Michele Sevacko:
There are too many "highlights" to touch on in this brief sharing - but, one of the stand-outs is the idea of Jews holding on to suffering vs. the Buddhists letting go. Growing up in a partly Jewish family, my understanding was that it wasn't so much holding on to the pain, as it was a matter of "rememering" - being mindful - so that if something like this were to come up again it would be recognized/seen and not allowed to happen. Because this has come up a few times as a memorial moment for the guest speakers, it's something that I'll be looking into more deeply and continue to reflect on.
This series so reinforced the importance of learning and teaching as much as possible about different paths/religions. It really brought home the idea that in order for us to live in peace - without violence - that we have to honor each other's beliefs & the right to practice them.
I know it must be a lot of work to put something like this together; but, I very much hope that these interfaith/intercultural dialogs will continue - and be made available.
From Rev. Wendy Stork:
I'm a Interfaith Esoteric Minister in the Heart Land of America. I don't see much interrelating being done within the different Religions and Cultures. The Series gave me Hope that there are groups working for the better understanding of all World Religions, the acceptance that is needed, and the respect that we can give each other. That this all needs to start within our own Community, perhaps by us sponsoring a once a month educational class on different World Religions, whether it is in a Church or Community Center, this might be a start. The Different Faiths and Religions must be united in our work towards Peace.
Within our small Church, we are holding a Satsung once a month. This is a Hindu Prayer Group, where we honor their prayers as much as we do ours. Its a small beginning, but a powerful one. All prayers for me, go to the one Almighty God.
Thank You for offering the Tele-series, I thoroughly enjoyed all the speakers.
From Laurie Story Vela:
Thank you so much for this incredible series; it was an honor and a privilege to be a participant.
The array of speakers & panelists were all so thought & heart provoking, it is a challenge to
put together just a few reflections ... What surfaces in summary, is the embracing of the sacred
in our response to global & cultural evolution. Peace as a way of life emerges from our willingness & ability to also fully engage oneness & religious pluralism. These calls to shifts in consciousness
were evident throughout the series beginning initially with Dr. Sallie King's invitation to view
situations not so much from the concept of justice but rather through the Buddhist lens of suffering.
Concepts like this are simple yet profound when one takes them in with both mind & soul. Similarly,
Prof. Chung HyuKyung's treatment of the connection between feminist consciousness and ecological activism
was both mind riveting & heart resonating giving strong voice to the power of the restorative feminine. The
unfolding umbrella of restorative justice was one of the strongest & most hopeful threads in the web of conversations.
In changing our stories in the wake of cultural evolution, Walter Wink's term 'restorative justice' is the answer
to the long reigning value of redemptive violence. There were many inspirational views and suggestions in letting
go of the latter including Rev. Marcus Braybrooke's invitation to relate to others of different cultures/religions
through stories to bridge gaps, and to simply share meals. Shared wisdom is surfacing and made accessible through
our willingness to listen to all voices. In Dr. Paul Knitter's answer to pluralism he stated, " .... a pluralist recognizes
it is essential for the human project that everybody has a very important word to speak but no one has the final
word to speak." He further called for the engagement & humility of all. In referring to the ALL, there was not a lot
of direct conversation focused on our youth but Fr Gonzalo spoke powerfully with reference to them. He spoke
of the cycle of young people being taught thru media, the values of consumerism, obsession for having things,
and in general a self centered way of being juxtaposed by the hope Fr Gonzalo felt in seeing young people who
turn away from such values to cultivate a more human perspective & way of life vs. being one who is rich
economically. Fr Gonzalo and others spoke beautifully to shared values of humanity that hold a promising view
of our evolution centered in the sacred, in happiness, in friendships, & in the well being of all life on our precious planet.
From Dr. James Youngman:
During the series a couple of presenters mentioned the Peace Council meeting in Ireland when their presence as representatives of different religions and cultures enjoying time together opened the eyes of others. I think this must have happened here in Melbourne too during the Parliament of the World's Religions in 2009. It was indeed an enriching experience for me being there every day amongst so much colour and diversity. Indeed, finding unity in diversity is, I believe, the greatest hope for a future of peace and prosperity throughout the world.
Whenever I present a message here at Unity of Melbourne (Australia), I always include some aspect of another faith, thereby intending to demonstrate the underlying communality with our own.