This post contains the program schedules and descriptions for Sunday, October 18th.
For a listing of the program schedules for other dates, please click on the links below:
October 16 | October 17 | October 19
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18th
Hadrat Kodesh: Sacred Chanting for Planetary Balance and Healing
October 18th, 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Ballroom H
It says in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) “Worship God in hadrat kodesh (the beauty of holiness).” (Psalms 29:2 and 96:9 and I Chronicles 16:29). The practice of Hadrat Kodesh involves chanting, breathing and thinking God’s name in beautiful holy ways. During this early morning session, we will pray for the healing of our planet, the well being or all sentient beings and the survival of the Chaldo-Assyrian and Yezidi communities in the Middle East who are facing genocide at the hands of so-called-ISIL. Each participant will have an opportunity to pray in silence in his or her own way and we will all chant together in hadrat kodesh, the beauty of divine holiness.
Presenter: Rabbi Pamela Frydman (Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County)
InterSpiritual Meditation: A Seven-Step Process Drawn from the World's Spiritual Traditions
October 18th, 8:15 AM - 9:45 AM
Room 250 D
InterSpiritual Meditation is a non-sectarian, universal process drawn from the world’s contemplative traditions. It helps those who are rooted in a single religious tradition as well as those who are Spiritual but Not Religious (SBNR) to harness their natural spiritual styles to create a mature contemplative practice. Based on the wisdom of classical sources, it provides a shared practice to help interfaith communities join together to create a world of compassion, peace, justice, and sustainability.
The seven steps are:
(1) May We be Healthy and Happy,
(2) May We be Grateful,
(3) May We be Transformed,
(4) May We be Loving and Compassionate,
(5) May We become Mindful through our Breathing,
(6) May We become Wise through our Meditation,
(7) May We be in Service to All Beings.
Ed Bastian authored InterSpiritual Meditation based on his work with over fifty teachers from the world’s contemplative traditions. This process provides spiritual leaders, health care professionals, psychologists and educators with a holistic process based on authentic traditional sources to mentor others in the development of a sustainable and fulfilling meditative practice.
Presenter: Ed Bastian
The Arts as a Vehicle of Interfaith Dialogue
Part of Shared Session: The Arts as a Vehicle of Interfaith Dialogue and You are Unique and Everything
October 18th, 8:15 AM - 9:45 AM
Room 251 A
Art is the embodiment of ideas translated into physical media. Art can be a safe haven to explore sensitive issues and ultimately reduce ethnic and race-based discrimination. The meaning of images, colors, musical notes, shapes and other expressions of artistic endeavor are not affected by national or religious borders – indeed, music is often known as ‘the universal language’.
Can the act of engaging in arts be a successful alternative in facilitating interfaith dialogue? This workshop will explore the various possibilities that the arts is able to achieve:
• Creating confidence, pride and a sense of belonging
• The intrinsic benefits of touching emotions
• Addressing and critiquing stereotypes Arts can address religious discrimination through the following means:
• Building positive social norms
• Promoting dialogue
• Emphasizing commonality and diversity Interfaith dialogue is the process of a respectful and open exchange of views among individuals of differing faiths.
This process is needed in today’s society, which is constantly threatened by cultural tension. A tangible way of implementing cultural harmony and well being will decrease the likelihood of cultural tension and conflict in the future. The session will be presented by Peter Mousaferiadis, who has been a champion of the intercultural movement since the 1980s.
Presenter: Peter Mousaferiadis
Science and Spirituality: Mystery as Common Ground – Presentation and book signing
October 18th, 8:45 - 9:30 AM
Room 253B (URI Hospitality Room)
Dr. George Wolfe is the author of Meditations on Mystery: Science, Paradox and Contemplative Spirituality.The concepts of paradox and mystery lie at the heart of both modern scientific thought and contemplative spirituality. Dr. Wolfe discusses the concept of mystery in an effort to end the hostile rhetoric that has been exchanged between these two groups over the past several years. It is also Professor Wolfe’s attempt to reach anyone who fails to appreciate the rich symbolism and wisdom that is found in the ancient religious texts that continue to impact our world. The deeper we dig into the physical universe, the more astonishing and incomprehensible it becomes, and the more we are confronted with mystery.
Presenter: Dr. George Wolfe, Ball State University (Muncie Interfaith Fellowship CC)
Living in Harmony in the Earth Community: A Multifaith Mandate Session 1
October 18th, 10AM
Room 355E
As the Parliament recognizes by designating “Climate Change and Care for Creation” as one of its three critical issues, the present and looming environmental crisis threatens worldwide disruption and devastation. As wise people have noted, the Earth is not in trouble, we are. Perhaps more than any other single issue facing humanity, this crisis can lead even the most optimistic to despair that humanity is too late and doing too little to avert calamity. The only antidote to despair is to take the positive steps – from the personal level to the policy level – that we can to create positive change.
Adherents of the world’s wisdom traditions have been both leaders and obstructionists in this effort. While acknowledging historically destructive attitudes toward the non-human parts of the Earth community, members of this multifaith panel will focus on how both historical and current interpretations and commitments among adherents of the world’s wisdom traditions are working on personal and policy levels to create a rising tide of those seeking to live in harmony with the Earth community.
Panelists will share teachings focusing on our connection with animals and the larger natural world, and offer specific possibilities for constructive engagement with this critical issue.
Presenter: Charles Gibbs
Abrahamic Reunion: 12 Peacemakers Of Abrahamic Faiths Of The Holy Land (Men & Women; Jews, Muslims, Christians & Druze): Tools For Peacemaking From The Different Traditions
October 18th, 10-11:30 AM
Room 251A
The Abrahamic Reunion (AR) is the largest interfaith peace organization in the Holy Land, bringing together hundreds of people of all different faiths to pray, walk, eat, and study the different scriptures together. Founded in 2004, the AR is the only interfaith peace organization with equal Jewish and Muslim leadership, and that features leaders from all Abrahamic faiths, both men and women.
The Abrahamic Reunion will speak about the tools for peace found within their traditions that empower each one as a religious peacemaker in the Holy Land. What are inner practices empowering us, what tools can be applied to multi-faith work globally?
Presenter: Ghassan Manasra
Grassroots Women Working across Faith Lines in Conflict Zones: Experiences and Lessons from the Frontlines
October 18th, 1:45 PM
Room 355BC
A panel discussion of four women from Conflict Zones – Uganda, Israel, Pakistan, and the Philippines - focusing on our own personal experiences, challenges and successes in our work bringing women of different faiths for shared activities in the midst of violent conflict. Our emphasis will be sharing the reality of grassroots women whose voices are often not heard from Africa, the Middle East, or Asia and who daily struggle against war, terrorism, domestic violence, girl child sacrifice and other forms of violence. We will discuss how our spirituality and faith enables us to gather women of different faiths who share the same thirst for normal sisterly relationships in an environment of religious hatred, fear, vengeance, and retribution. We will discuss the tremendous challenges, risks, and personal costs to continue this work in the face of opposition and how we are sustained by our sisters and our personal faith traditions. We will request questions from the audience to tailor our presentation to their needs and interests on the topic of grassroots women of faith building interfaith harmony in conflict zones.
Presenters: Despina Namwembe, Elana Rozenman, Sabina Rifat, Potre Diampuan (WIN URI (Women's Interfaith Network of the URI))
Non-Traditional Jesus on War, Violence and Injustice
October 18th, 1:45-3:15 PM
Ballroom B
This interfaith panel, two women and two men, will bring together a Muslim, a Jew, a Mormon and a New Thought practitioner, moderated by a retired Christian Pastor, to provide a multi-faith perspective on Jesus' view of War, Violence and Injustice. A Muslim from Senegal, a Jew from Israel, a Mormon living in Hawaii and a New Thought Practitioner from Southern Nevada, all readers of The Urantia Book, will come together to share their reflections upon the importance of the life and teachings of Jesus in relation to their faith traditions and the issues of War, Violence and Injustice on the planet. They will also provide insight into Jesus' view toward women and their role in bringing an end to war through developing cultures of peace and justice. A brief video presentation consisting of the great art and stories of Jesus will precede the panel dialogue, illustrating the teachings of Jesus on War, Violence and Injustice, as well as his respect for Women. Questions will be gathered from the audience on these same issues and directed to the panel.
Presenter: Gard Jameson (Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada)
Goddesses Alive! A Ritual with Masks
October 18th, 1:45-3:15 PM
Ballroom G
Drawing from several different contemporary and historical Pagan paths, this performance features masked performers embodying one of 13 goddesses from around the world. Incorporating music and singing, chant, narrative, dance, and direct interaction with attendees, this offering speaks in its own way to the issues of climate change and care for creation, as well as to other current cultural concerns. Indigenous, ethnic, and historical faces of goddesses express respect for women and Nature, and can bring an experiential awareness of the divine feminine.
Presenter: Aline "Macha" O'Brien (Marin Interfaith Council)
Plenary 5: Focus on Climate Change
October 18th, 3:30 – 5:00PM
Plenary Hall
The Parliament has been at the leading edge of environmental sustainability since it adopted the vision of a “sustainable world” as part of its mission, shortly before the first modern Parliament in 1993. The time is now for faith communities to bring our congregations to the conversation surrounding environmental sustainability, which not only encourages it at a personal level to avoid wasteful living, but also to engage the guiding institutions of our nations and the world to take the urgent steps necessary to save our shared home. Listen to the experts and join in action as we sign a declaration on this critical issue.
Presenter: Chief Arvol Looking Horse (Protecting and Restoring the Sacred)
Listening: A Sacred Art and a Spiritual Practice
October 18th, 5:15 - 6:45 PM
Room 250E
Deep listening is at the heart of our humanity, yet in the 21st Century, speaking has become our first language. We spend hours preparing to speak. We don't even think about preparing to listen. This workshop focuses on the power of sacred listening - the art of becoming a listening presence, someone who can truly hear what the other is saying. As with any art, when we experience deep listening there is a sense of being at one with the other. We experience a wholeness that transcends our differences. These are the conversations we remember – there is a holiness to them; we feel heard, understood, valued. One of the keys to developing this capacity to listen more deeply is daily practice, the spiritual discipline that prepares us to become a listening presence. We will explore three types of practices in this workshop: cultivating silence, slowing down to reflect, and becoming present. As we open our hearts to deep, attentive listening, we find it transforms all our relationships, nurtures our inner voice, and inspires our spiritual growth. We find ourselves in community with feelings of gratitude and growing compassion for others. These are the conversations that can transform the world.
Presenter: Kay Lindahl (SARAH;Women of Spirit and Faith)
