1000s
engaging across old faith taboos & political walls
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
There is no Clash
of Civilizations
between the Muslim
World and the West.
There is only a
clash of ignorances.
~ Andre Azoulay,
Moroccan Jew
Advisor
to King Mohammed VI of Morocco
"Life is not
a contest or a conquest,
but a quest for
the best in each and every one of us."
~ Hugh, Mann, M.D.
Eagle Rock, Missouri
9/11 clarified forever: Neither technology nor distance can keep us safe.
Sustainable security lies best in excellent,
perpetual relationships.
And dignifying each other.
This has always been prescribed in our wisdom
traditions.
Now a book and an exquisite film remind us of
our history, and prescribe our shared future.
Shalom/Salaam: A Story of a Mystical Fraternity reminds us that Islamic and
Jewish ideas, traditions, and people commingled to positively influence both
paths to deepen in wisdom, both peoples to flower.
Shalom/Salaam: A Story of a Mystical Fraternity
reminds us of historic, loving interfaith relationships between Islamic mystics
and spiritual Jews, most memorably for nearly one thousand years during the
centuries of "convivenica" -- interfaith
living together, in Muslim-ruled Spain.
Author Tom Block offers more at http://www.tomblock.com/11shalom/
LEARN MORE about his breakthrough book:
Shalom/Salaam:
A Story of a Mystical Fraternity
Thomas Block
Fons Vitae, November 1, 2010, 248
pages
Out
of Cordoba
documents the two most important thinkers of medieval Muslim Spain: Averroes
the Muslim, and his Jewish counterpart, Rabbi Moses Maimonides.
The 82-minute film explores the legacy of these two
philosophers, as well as their contemporary importance for today's interfaith
relations, especially for Muslims, Jews, and Christians seeking to overcome
fear and ignorance created by distance between them.
Filmed over 10 years in the USA, Spain, Morocco,
France, Italy, Egypt, Palestine, and Israel, this esthetically exquisite film
is a must for students of religion, history, life, and community building.
LEARN MORE:
Out
of Cordoba:
Averroes
and Maimonides in Their Time and Ours
Trailer (8-1/2 min)
Now appreciate everyday citizens who are meeting -- painting of picture
of our close-at-hand future together.
IN FRANCE
MUSLIMS & JEWS
FACEBOOK, THEN FACE-TO-FACE
Last July 2011 in Paris, France, about 100 Jews and Muslims sat on
shared blankets snacking on carrots and Middle Eastern pastries.
It looked like a family reunion, but most of the
people had never met face to face.
They are part of SHALOM PAIX SALAM -- http://www.facebook.com/groups/ShalomPaixSalam
Building bridges between Muslims and Jews in
France, they are fostering a community on Facebook
where members can interact directly online about their lives, questions that
interest and even haunt them.
Its revolutionary, says Mohamed Kamli, a Muslim law student at the Sorbonne and one of the
groups assistant directors. You dont have to go up to
a random person on the street and say, You have a kipah,
lets talk about some issues.
The group is trying to change the nature of the
relationship of Jews and Muslims in France.
Already with 1,600 fans on Facebook,
the group keeps transforming online contacts to authentic, face-to-face
relationships while organizing film screenings, museum tours, lectures,
picnics, and other meet-ups.
They even made a collective statement and peace march
at the Eiffel Tower.
Putting aside politics is something that isnt done here in France by the other organizations, Kamli says.
That approach is what attracted two young Parisian
Muslim sisters, Sana and Rizlaine Atifi,
to the organization.
It's very important to connect all people, Rizlaine Atifi says.
In the world, there are so many problems about
religion."
You can think whatever you want, but the most
important thing is to respect the differences between us," agrees sister,
Sana.
We can live together very well.
READ MORE:
How
to use Facebook to build friendships
between
French Muslims and Jews
by Alex Weisler
-- July 18, 2011
IN TEXAS
2,000 MUSLIMS & CHRISTIANS
CONSIDER THEIR SHARED FUTURE
The only hope we have to tone down our fear of Muslims and the only thing Jesus
commands us to do is love its done by engaging
others, says Bob Roberts, Jr., Senior Pastor at Northwood Church.
Last Sunday in Northwood Church in Keller, Texas,
1,000 Christians and 1,000 Muslims came together to embark on societal change.
It is part evangelical Christian churches in the
United States increasingly embracing people of other faiths and willingly and
actively engaging in meaningful dialogue in order to solve common problems of
poverty, education, and social justice.
Two billion Christians and over 1.5 billion Muslims
are over half of humankind.
Paired and cooperative, they can impact our society in
a personal and powerful way in this 21st century calling for unprecedented
creativity and cooperation.
READ MORE:
1,000
Christians and 1,000 Muslims
Common Ground News -- 20
September 2011
http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=30410&lan=en&sp=0
VIEW VIDEOS from Texas:
Building Bridges with Fellow
Texans
Northwood
Church -- Keller, Texas -- 18 September 2011
Part 1 (6 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIed3rW49xU
Part 2 (1-1/2 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R32imYnuRZ8
Part 3 (12 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBvxfT9NBdc
Part 4 (5-1/2 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j6q3JT0nZU
Part 5 (1/2 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW4ogAtjfG4
Part 6 (6-1/2 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy8ZSm-z_do
Part 7 (1/2-min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_1ZDxiLUUk
Part 8 (9-1/2 min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edI__8-reDY
IN NIGERIA
200 CHRISTIANS & MUSLIMS
IN YOUTH INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
In October 2012, Muslim and Christian young adults will again engage face to
face in Jos, central Nigeria.
3rd Annual Conference on
Youth and Interfaith Communication
Jos, Nigeria
http://www.youthinterfaithconference.org
They will deepen and expand upon their brave, successful 2010 encounter, the
subject of a coming documentary film, DIALOGUE IN NIGERIA -- http://traubman.igc.org/vidnigeria.htm
VIEW the film's roll-in:
DIALOGUE IN NIGERIA
Roll-in -- 3-1/2
min video -- film coming in late 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz4ebSY-FBc
IN THE HOLY LAND
BEYOND ABRAHAMIC FAITHS
EXPANDING INCLUSION OF WISDOM TRADITIONS
In Jerusalem, the Interfaith Encounter Association -- http://www.interfaith-encounter.org
-- continues gathering widely diverse women, men, and youth in deep listening
and learning.
Recent breakthroughs include participation by West
Bank settlers.
Almost unnoticed last week, a handful of these Jews,
Muslims, and Christians begin considering non-Abrahamic
people and faith traditions, including of Sikhs, Hindus, Taoists, Buddhists,
plus views and practices of indigenous Africans and Native Americans.
- - - - -
These and hundreds of other success stories are preserved at http://traubman.igc.org/messages.htm