Friends and the Interfaith Movement

Day 1: INTRODUCTION: REACHING OUT TO THOSE OF OTHER FAITH TRADITIONS.

* Do you have friendships or other relationships with those of other religious traditions? How have these relationships affected your own values and faith?

* What stereotypes have you had about people of different religious traditions, and how have your attitudes changed?

* Are you comfortable talking about religious matters with those of different religious traditions? What makes you uncomfortable?

* Have you been involved in interfaith peace and/or social justice activities? What has been most rewarding about this work? What has been most challenging?

* What troubles you most about the role of religion in today’s world? What gives you hope?

Day 2: WHAT ROLE DO FRIENDS PLAY IN THE INTERFAITH PEACE MOVEMENT? What can we do to promote interfaith understanding?

1) CIRC: history, purpose, current activities, and future plans.

2) Local interfaith/ecumenical councils: how you can become involved.

3) National organizations. Tikkun, spiritual progressives, etc.

4) International organizations: the Parliament of World Religions

5) Quaker Universalist Fellowship

Video: “God and Allah Need to Talk”

Day 3 : Compassionate Listening, “Interfaith Cafes,” “Faith Clubs,” “Tent of Abraham,” youth activities, etc.

Day 4 : ISLAM AND SUFISM FROM A QUAKER PERSPECTIVE. In this session we will explore both mainstream Islam and its mystical branch, Sufism. I also hope to invite a Muslim speaker to come and address the group. We will also be planning a field trip to a local mosque (time permitting).

Day 5 : Parliament of the World’s Religions. In this session we will explore in more depth the Parliament of the World’s Religions and non-Abrahamic faiths, including Taoism, Paganism, Bahai, non-theism, etc.

Day 6 : ENVISIONING A WORLD OF RELIGIOUS HARMONY. During the dark days of the Cold War Elise Boulding recognized that it isn’t enough to be anti-war, we must have a vision of peace. She challenged and inspired Friends to envision a “world without war.” During this age of religious conflict how do we envision a “world of religious harmony”? What do we see as an alternative to the current paradigm of “perpetual war for perpetual peace” and the “clash of civilization”?

Recommended readings:

* Highly recommended = Quakers and the Interfaith Movement: A Handbook, ed. Anthony Manousos.  It contains articles by notable Quaker scholars, such as Anthony Manousos, Michael Birkel, Steve Angell, Max Carter, Stephanie Crumley-Effinger, Sallie King, et al exploring practical ways to be active in interfaith peacemaking.

* The Tent of Abraham: Stories of Hope and Peace for Jews, Christians, and Muslims by Joan Chittister, Murshid Saadi Shakur Chishti, and Rabbi Arthur Waskow, with a foreword by Karen Armstrong. Beacon Press, 2006.

* The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner. Free Press, 2006.

* Islam from a Quaker Perspective by Anthony Manousos. Friends Bulletin, 2004.

* Compassionate Listening and other writings by Gene Knudsen Hoffman, Quaker Peacemaker and Mystic, edited by Anthony Manousos. Friends Bulletin, 2003.

* Peace Be Unto You: The Story of Muslim, Christian and Jewish Coexistence by Zachary Karabel. Knopft, 2006.