Religions for Peace - USA September/October 2007 E-Newsletter

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In This Issue:

From Our Executive Director…

New Ways to Spread the Word About RFP!
Next time you visit RFP-USA's home page, try clicking on our new link, "Spread the Word," under "Support," on the left-hand drop-down menu. Or, just click here to visit our new webpage, which lists lots of fun, easy, and creative ways for you to get involved and spread the word about RFP! You can find RFP-USA on Facebook, MySpace, and now on Change.org, a site that brings together committed individuals, charitable organizations, and non-profits for the common good. Join our group, donate to our cause, or just friend us today!

We've also added ways for you to personalize your own computer or website in order to support RFP-USA. Our "Spread the Word" page shows you how to advertise RFP-USA on your website, or set up your very own dynamic RFP-USA blog on your desktop. Check out the page here and do your part to spread the word.

Muslim Scholars Reach Out to Christian Leaders
On October 11, 2007, in a dramatic and groundbreaking display of inter-religious solidarity, 138 of the world’s most senior Muslim leaders wrote to the heads of Christian churches proposing a solid base upon which the two global faiths can co-operate in creating peace and understanding in the world. The letter says that world peace could depend on improved relations between Muslims and Christians. It identifies the principles of accepting only one god and living in peace with one's neighbors as common ground between the two religions. It also insists that Christians and Muslims worship the same god. The letter coincides with the Eid al-Fitr celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan.

The letter, entitled A Common Word Between Us and You compares passages in the Qur'an and the Bible, concluding that both emphasize "the primacy of total love and devotion to God," and the love of the neighbor. With Muslims and Christians making up more than half the world's population, the letter goes on, the relationship between the two religious communities is "the most important factor in contributing to meaningful peace around the world".

NYDIS Releases Disaster Mental Health & Spiritual Care Manual
On September 25, coinciding with its 4th Annual Disaster Preparedness Summit for NYC Religious Leaders, NYDIS released its "Manual for New York City Religious Leaders: Mental Health and Spiritual Care for Disaster Response and Recovery." This 152-page Manual, a compilation of 19 chapters by 16 different disaster mental health and spiritual care experts, was edited by the Reverend Stephen Harding, Director of Pastoral Care at NYU Medical Center and FDNY Chaplain.

The Manual offers an overview of the lifecycle of disasters, discusses the role of religious leaders in houses of worship throughout these phases, and provides information to guide NYC religious leaders to skill sets, training resources and effective clinical and pastoral best practices. The chapters are organized into three sections: Preparation & Mitigation, Response & Recovery, and Reference & Resources. The Manual serves as a comprehensive resource tool to enable New York City religious leaders to best serve their congregations and the public as they respond to and recover from disasters.

Interfaith Fast to End the War in Iraq: October 8th
Thousands of Americans crossed the lines of their faith traditions to fast from dawn to dusk October 8th as part of the Interfaith Fast to End the War in Iraq. Prayer and fasting events were also reported in Canada, Australia and elsewhere, said the Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, Associate General Secretary at the National Council of Churches USA (NCC), one of the fast’s organizers.

Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Unitarians, people of other faiths and people of no faith observed a day of fasting together. In many communities the breaking of the fast was observed at Islamic centers with an iftar dinner on the Night of Power, the holiest night in Ramadan.

For example, at an Islamic center in Sterling, Va., just outside the nation’s capital, several Christians and Jews gathered with Muslims to break the fast. Also present were officials of the U.S. State and Homeland Security departments and elected officials.

Among the religious who organized or endorsed the event were: Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Shalom Center, Philadelphia; Dr. Sayyid M. Sayeed, Islamic Society of North America, Plainfield, Ill.; Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, NCC Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations and Rev. Michael Livingston, NCC President; Jean Stoken, Pax Christi Roman Catholic peace ministry; Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia, Moderator of Religions for Peace USA; Jim Winkler, United Methodist Board for Church and Society; Rick Ufford-Chase, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and Christian Peace Witness, and Bishop Christopher Epting, The Episcopal Church.

Beyond Fear: Securing a More Peaceful World
The Stanley Foundation is pleased to present the latest of its Now Showing event-in-a-box toolkits: Beyond Fear: Securing a More Peaceful World. The toolkit provides everything groups need to put together an event that will explore US leadership in today’s uncertain world. Each Beyond Fear toolkit features a DVD with a segment entitled, “Djibouti: Building, Not Fighting,” which explores how the US military is approaching counterterrorism in the Horn of Africa. It also includes “Nuclear Nation,” a segment of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer about the recent US-India nuclear deal.

In addition to the DVD, the toolkit includes event planner and moderator guides, each chock full of helpful tips and resources for putting together a successful event. Discussion guides are provided to facilitate group discussion on the issues raised in the video. Also, the toolkit includes materials that provide further background on the discussion topics.

Sign up now to receive your toolkit.

Restructuring America's Ground Forces: Better, Not Bigger
Dr. Steven Metz, chairman of the Regional Strategy and Planning Department and research professor of National Security Affairs at the Strategic Studies Institute, and Frank Hoffman. a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies ask the question: What will the US military look like in the year 2020? Or perhaps more importantly, they ask: What should the military look like?

In a new policy analysis brief, put out by the Stanley Foundation, the two men conclude: “We need a debate on our national security priorities and the resources we allocate to conventional forces, homeland security, and preventive programs including foreign aid, military security assistance, and threat reduction projects. To focus solely on land forces, which have been admittedly overlooked for some time, is myopic. Enlarging them while reducing their quality is risky. We need better land forces, not more.”

Read the full policy analysis brief here.

The POWER of FORGIVENESS
Filmmaker Martin Doblmeier’s most recent film, The POWER of FORIGVENESS, was awarded Best Documentary at the third annual Sun Valley Film Festival in Sun Valley, Idaho in September, 2007. The POWER of FORGIVENESS includes feature stories on the Amish, the 9/11 tragedy, and peace-building in Northern Ireland, along with interviews with renowned Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel, best-selling authors Thomas Moore and Marianne Williamson, and others. It explores the role forgiveness holds in various faith traditions and examines how the scientific community is now measuring the physical and mental benefits of letting go of grief and resentment.

Doblmeier notes, "The word ‘forgiveness’ may be the most provocative word in our culture today. There is an underlying anger in our country that we see regularly in our movies, in the news, even on our highways. For some, that anger is acceptable while others are calling for a new direction in our thinking and the way we interact with others. Forgiveness proves itself not only to be good for our health, but it offers a solid first step in that new direction."

Watch a film… Make a friend… Make Peace Happen…
In partnership with 20,000 Dialogues, Religions for Peace - USA invites you to join a new, nationwide initiative bringing people of different faith together using award winning documentaries. Sign up now to host a dialogue and receive a free film.

To host your own dialogue and film screening, 20,000 Dialogues provides you with resources to lead interfaith discussions. You can choose Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet or Cities of Light: the Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain, two award winning PBS documentaries free of charge. Here is how to start:

• Pick a date (or several dates) to hold a screening and dialogue.
• Invite your friends and colleagues to join you.
• Go to the 20,000 Dialogues site and register
• In 7-10 days you will receive your copy of either Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain, or Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet, completely free of charge.
• Before you host your dialogue print out and review our dialogue packet, rich with resources for first time facilitators
• Have the participants complete evaluations of your dialogue and you’re done!

Rabbi Yoffie’s Speaks at ISNA
Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish denomination in North America, spoke at the opening session of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention on August 31, 2007.

Speaking at the largest convention of adherents of Islam, Rabbi Yoffie attacked those in politics, the media, and religious life who demonize Muslims. The head of the URJ called for open dialogue between Muslims and Jews and an end to racial profiling. He also emphasized the dangers of extremism and asked American Muslims to assist in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“There is no shortage of voices prepared to tell us that fanaticism and intolerance are fundamental to Islamic religion, and that violence and even suicide bombing have deep Qur'anic roots,” Yoffie told the more than 30,000 people meeting in Chicago for the 44th annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America. And “there is no lack of so-called experts who are eager to seize on any troubling statement by any Muslim thinker and pin it on Islam as a whole.”

Citing the statements of Pat Robertson, Franklin Graham, Dennis Prager and U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, Yoffie said, “The time has come to stand up to the opportunists in our midst – the media figures, religious leaders, and politicians who demonize Muslims and bash Islam, exploiting the fears of their fellow citizens for their own purposes.”

Rabbi Yoffie announced that the leadership the ISNA and the Union for Reform Judaism are planning a joint dialogue and education program for synagogues and mosques.

Read the full text of his remarks here.

General Assembly Opens Two-day High Level Dialogue On Interreligious,Intercultural Understanding, Cooperation For Peace
In the first ever High-Level Dialogue on Interfaith and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace at the United Nations, officials from the world body challenged Member States to recognize that living together in a globalized world implied a commitment to promoting unity and diversity and to the free and honest exchange of ideas and knowledge

Panelists included: Manuel Manonelles, Director, Foundation for a Culture of Peace, Spain; Thalif Deen, United Nations Bureau Chief, Inter Press Service International Association, Sri Lanka; Eliseo Mercado, Chair, National Peace Council, Philippines; Judith Van Osdol, Continental Coordinator of Women?s Ministries, Latin American Council of Churches, Argentina; and Katy Sarre, Chief Executive Officer, INFOGEST, Senegal.

William F. Vendley, Secretary-General for the Wold Conference of Religions for Peace, moderated the discussion.

For more information visit the website here.
Download the program here.

U.S. Congress Passes Ramadan Bill
In a historic moment for American Muslims and Muslims across the globe, the United States Congress commemorated and recognized the month of Ramadan as the Islamic holy month for the first time. In an unanimous resolution, passed 376-0 on October 2, 2007, Congress resolved that:

(1) during this time of conflict, in order to demonstrate solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the world, the House of Representatives recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world; and

(2) in observance of and out of respect for the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, the House of Representatives acknowledges the onset of Ramadan and expresses its deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this significant occasion.

Interfaith Concert Series: Songs of the Spirit
The interfaith concert series “Songs of the Spirit” will be held for the second year at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York on November 16, 2007.

This year's Cathedral performance and New York State tour features Hugh Masekela, Odetta, the Tibetan monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery, Haale, Frank London & Lorin Sklamberg of The Klezmatics, Tracy Grammer, Craig Harris, and the Shangilia Children's Choir, from Nairobi, Kenya.

For more information, and other dates and locations on the tour, visit: http://www.parallelvoice.net/songs.html

Rissho Kosei-kai Engaged Buddhism Symposium
Rissho Kosei-kai is hosting a symposium on Saturday, November 10, 2007 from 12:30-4:30 in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Rissho Kosei-kai.

The symposium, entitled “Buddhist Visions of Peace in Today’s World,” includes presentations such as “An overview of Engaged Buddhist Visions of Peace,” by Dr. Kenneth Kraft, Professor of Religious Studies at Lehigh University, “The Struggle for Human Rights in a Sectarian World,” by Dr. Christopher S. Queen, Lecturer in Religion at Harvard University, and “Humanistic Buddhist View on Peace in the Modern World” by Ven. Dr. Yifa, Professor at the University of the West, Rosemead, California, among others.

For more information, please contact Mr. Paul Sherbow at psherbow@wcrp.org; 212-687-2163 ext 29 or Ms. Judy Yoshitsu at koseiny@aol.com ; 212-867-5677.

WSC-AR Participates in International & National Events
The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) recently participated in four international and national meetings in the United Kingdom, Mexico, and the United States of America. In the last few months, WSC-AR provided leadership to:

• World Sikh Summit, London, UK, September 15-17
• International Interreligious Encounter, Monterrey, Mexico, September 21-24
• Sikh-Catholic National Retreat, Washington, US, September 28-30
• Religion and Foreign Policy Workshop, New York, US, July 17-18

WSC-AR's Vice-Chairperson, Mr. Surinderpal Singh and Chair of the Human Rights and Religious Freedom Committee, Mr. Kavneet Singh, attended the World Sikh Summit organized by the Sikh Federation (UK), September 15-17, in England. Sikh representatives from UK, USA, India, France, Germany, Norway, Italy, Greece, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands attended the meeting.

Dr. Anahat Kaur, Chair of WSC-AR's Education Committee, represented the Sikh faith at the International Interreligious Encounter held September 21-24 in Monterrey, Mexico. The gathering was a part of the global Monterrey Forum 2007 (attended by about 6,000 persons) and organized by the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions.

Representatives of the World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) and the US Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) met September 28-30 at St. Paul's College in Washington, DC for a three-day Sikh-Catholic bilateral national interreligious retreat.

WSC-AR's Secretary General Mr. Manmohan Singh attended the Religion and Foreign Policy Workshop organized by the Council of Foreign Relations (US), July 17-18, in New York. National religious representatives as well as notable academics from many universities and institutes from the United States, as well as fellows and journalists attended the workshop.

The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) is a representative and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions in the United States. Its members include 45 Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) and other Sikh institutions across the nation. WSC-AR works to promote Sikh interests at the national and international level focusing on issues of advocacy, education, and well-being of humankind.

Muslims Grassroots in the West Discuss Democracy
“The Qur’an is the constitution” – This was the most widely accepted observation of the project known as Muslim Grassroots in the West Discuss Democracy. The participants in these discussions were well-informed Muslims living in the West, but they had not previously engaged in any formal discussions on the subject of democracy. All responses were protected by guaranteed anonymity and obtained within the “democratic” atmosphere of face to face meetings primarily with Anglican/Episcopalian hosts. 350 to 400 Muslims took part in 38 groups in more than 250 hours of discussion across the United States and United Kingdom (plus one in Mauritius).

The Report was initiated by the Advisory Council of the Anglican Observer to the United Nations and seeks objectively to reflect the range of Muslim views. Organiser and editor is Amedee Turner, QC, Honorary Member of the European Parliament.

The Report has been published on the UN Alliance of Civilizations website. To access this Report, go to it by clicking on http://unaoc.org/aoc.php?page=32 and then click on the Report entitled “Muslim Grass-Roots in the West Discuss Democracy”. Alternatively, the Report and more details can be found here. Email contacts are amedee.turner@btinternet.com or rtd2007@googlemail.com.

Religions for Peace Calls on Myanmar Government to Exercise Restraint and Enter Peaceful Dialogue

Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace, the world's largest and most representative multi-religious coalition, issued the following statement calling on the military government of Myanmar to exercise restraint and enter into peaceful dialogue with Myanmar's religious communities and other groups:

"The Buddhist religious community of Myanmar, demonstrating immense courage, has taken to the streets in peaceful protest seeking political and economic reforms.

The Buddhist monks of Myanmar are demonstrating the power of religious communities as a force for peace. The world's religious communities of all faiths must stand with the Buddhist monks of Myanmar in their peaceful protest.

The world's religious communities share the belief that we all are part of the human family and are only as secure as the most vulnerable among us. Right now, the Buddhist religious community of Myanmar faces a grave and imminent threat of violence because it chose to speak out for peace. All people of faith, their religious communities, and leaders must raise their voices against violence and speak out in support of the people of Myanmar and their religious communities.

The Myanmar authorities must exercise restraint, eschew violence, and enter into peaceful dialogue with the country's religious communities and other groups.

The international community must work together urgently to ensure a peaceful outcome in Myanmar.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should use all tools at his disposal to avert a violent crackdown on peaceful protestors by the Myanmar military or its proxies. He should also encourage meaningful, peaceful dialogue between the military and all sectors of Myanmar society, including the Buddhist religious community and the opposition National League for Democracy.

Violence against the religious communities in Myanmar should trigger immediate action by the United Nations Security Council, as well as regional mechanisms, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)."

Under the Dragon: The New California Culture
Under the Dragon represents a three-year-long effort by Fred Setterberg and Lonny Shavelson to document the huge cultural shift now taking place in California—and show how it serves as a harbinger for what's to come in the rest of the country.

Published in conjunction with an exhibit at the Oakland Museum from January to April 2008, Under the Dragon combines insightful text with rich photography to bring readers into the world witnessed by the authors. Each page tells a new story with a new picture: a Mexican Muslim cooking carne asada and tortillas, African-American Buddhists, Rabbis wearing sombreros. The diversity of cultures in California cannot be missed by anyone looking at the bold coloring and eye-catching photography, and the power of identity and the impact of culture shifts cannot be lost on anyone reading the stories told in this book.

If California is the predictor for what is to come in other communities, America must get ready for new definitions of "ethnic diversity."

Inside the World Religions: An Illustrated Guide
In another new favorite combining text with rich, moving photography, Inside World Religions brings six major faith traditions to life: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—with shorter sections on Zoroastrianism, Baha'i, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto.

The vivid photography and accessible chapters delves beneath the surface of religions to discover what they mean for those who follow them. Intended for the novice inquirer, the book includes brief accessible chapters that ask how, for example, does belonging to a particular faith affect people's relationships, their celebrations of special occasions, and the way they live their daily lives?

Fight Global Warming Now: The Handbook for Taking Action in Your Community
In the first hands-on guidebook to stopping climate change, author Bill McKibben argues that it is no longer the time to debate global warming, it is the time to fight it.

In Fight Global Warming Now, the leading scientist at NASA warns that we have only ten years to reverse climate change and the British government's report on global warming estimates that the financial impact will be greater than the Great Depression and both world wars combined.

Notes from Canada's Young Activists: A Generation Stands Up for Change
In this compilation, young citizens describe the moments they were inspired to pursue their passions to improve their world. Their methods and causes are diverse, and their stories highlight their innovative ways of identifying and addressing problems in society. The achievements here are impressive, from Craig Kielburger's founding of Free the Children to raise awareness of child labor to Lyndsay Poaps becoming the youngest elected official in Vancouver history. These stories, in Young Activists, counter the myth of youth as self-absorbed slackers, presenting a bracing new generation of activist leaders.

The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science
Beginning with the words, "There was a time when scholars disputed whether the discussion of science and religion could ever be viewed as a specialized field on its own..." editors Philip Clayton and Zachary Simpson then attempt to do just that.

For the first time, The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science presents a single-volume introduction to the debate, written by the leading experts of the field.

Each chapter defends a major intellectual position, covering the current "hot topics" such as evolution versus creation, naturalism versus the supernatural. In addition to treatments of questions of methodology and implications for life and practice, the Handbook includes sections devoted to the major scientific disciplines, the major world religions, and the main sub-disciplines in this exciting and ever-expanding field of study.