Vol VI. No. 29
*****
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
*****
Colleagues List Blog:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/
*****
In this Issue
Special Item This Week -
Summarizing My Course on
"God, Atheism and Morality"
Can We Be Good Without God?
___
Colleague Contributions:
Mark Noll
Jim Taylor
Reginald Bibby
Ron Rolheiser
___
Net Notes:
The Great EB
Three Mile Island Anniversary
Modern Families and Gay Adoption
Another Veil 'Reveals' Face of Jesus
Learnings from 50 Years of Confessions
North Korea is on 'Knife Edge' of Hunger
India Debates Ban on Biography of Gandhi
Protestants See Biased South Korean Media
Priest Women's Ordination Supporter Dumped
Canadian Woman Head of Int'l Salvation Army
___
Global Faith Potpourri:
Twelve ENI stories appear this week.
___
Quotes of the Week:
Shiva Vandana
Jean Vanier
Brenda Peterson
Marianne Williamson
Francois Mauriac
___
On This Day:
March 26, 1979 - Camp David Accord - Begin and Sadat
March 28, 1979 - Three Mile Island Nuclear Incident
March 29, 1973 - Last US Troops Leave South Vietnam
April 1, 1945 - American Forces Invade Okinawa
___
Closing Thought - Julian of Norwich
**************
Dear Friends:
My winter classes have been coming to an end.
It is a good time for reflecting on what we
have been learning together.
Today, I summarize my very satisfying university
course entitled "God, Atheism and Morality."
I asked - "Can We Be Good Without God?" -
and got some very helpful responses.
___
Colleague Contributions:
Mark Noll - co-authors a new book on
Christian voices from Africa and Asia
(Publisher's Weekly)
Jim Taylor - praises the value of
interdependence (Personal Web Log)
Reginald Bibby - picks up on a study
out of Arizona this week. He challenges
the view that faith is dying in Canada
(Assist News, National Post)
Ron Rolheiser - writes a column on
"Loving Our Enemies" (Personal Web Site)
___
Net Notes:
"The Great EB" - the Encyclopedia
Britannica is celebrating a special
anniversary and I provide some help to
understand this formidable publication
(Christian Century)
"Three Mile Island Anniversary" - with
Japan strongly on our minds here is a
reminder of America's biggest nuclear
disaster (Christian Science Monitor)
"Modern Families and Gay Adoption" -
Marlene found this story on the adoption
of a child by gay parents - a redemptive
article well worth reading in full
(Calgary Herald)
"Another Veil 'Reveals' Face of Jesus" -
some people seem to thrive on stories of
relics and reminders of Jesus among us.
Here is a new wrinkle on the 'Shroud of
Turin' phenomenon (Zenit News from Rome)
"Learnings from 50 Years of Confessions"
- a priest with many years of experience
in the 'confessional' shares some of his
discoveries (America Magazine)
"North Korea is on 'Knife Edge' of Hunger"
- once more, this isolated land seems to
be on the verge of disaster from starvation
(The Guardian, UK)
"India Debates Ban on Biography of Gandhi"
- last week the New York Times published a
review of a new Gandhi biography. The book
has precipitated a storm in Gandhi's homeland
(New York Times, Ucan News)
"Protestants See Biased South Korean Media"
- some Christians in Korea are blaming the
popular media for some very bad publicity
(Ucan News)
"Priest Women's Ordination Supporter Dumped"
- Fr. Roy Bourgeois, a Maryknoll priest who
has taken on many justice causes, including
the ordination of women to the priesthood,
learned this week that he cannot remain in
his order (Ucan News, New Catholic Times)
"Canadian Woman Head of Int'l Salvation Army"
- we celebrate the appointment of a Canadian
woman to the international leadership of the
Salvation Army, with headquarters in London.
(Christianweek.org)
___
Global Faith Potpourri:
Twelve ENI, Geneva stories appear this week.
___
Quotes of the Week:
Provided through the services of
Sojourners.online:
Shiva Vandana
Jean Vanier
Brenda Peterson
Marianne Williamson
Francois Mauriac
___
On This Day:
The New York Times provides these stories
as they were happening:
Camp David treaty - Begin and Sadat (1979)
Three Mile Island Nuclear Incident (1979)
Last US Troops Leave South Vietnam (1973)
American forces invade Okinawa (1945)
___
Closing Thought - Julian of Norwich
Wayne
************************
SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS
Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or)admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/
Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/services.htm
___
ST DAVID'S ACTS WEB PAGE
Created and maintained by Colleague
Jock McTavish
http://stdavidscalgary.net/
__
INTRODUCING OUR
ST.DAVID'S WINTER STUDY FOR 2011
Books Considered:
"An Altar in the World"
by Barbara Brown Taylor
(and)
"I Shall Not Hate -
A Gaza Doctor's Journey"
by Izzeldin Abuelaish
More study and website particulars will
be posted as they become available.
Last Session - Monday, April 4th, 2011!
Special Guest: Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman
B'Nai Tikvah Reform Temple, Calgary
He will speak on peace in the Middle East
and give his views on "I Shall Not Hate"
as a supporter of the Palestinian doctor.
Here is the link to the session design:
http://tinyurl.com/46eyn5j
Here is a TV Ontario Interview with
Dr. Abuelaish provided by Bookbrowse.com:
http://tinyurl.com/4nbdreg
*****
MY UNIVERSITY WINTER COURSE FOR 2011
GOD, ATHEISM, AND MORALITY
This course is now completed.
See notes in Special Items Section
of Colleagues List this week.
"The Moral Landscape:
How Science Can Determine Human Values"
(Free Press, October, 2010)
Supplementary text:
"Godless Morality" by Richard Holloway
(Canongate (new edition) 2009)
Click here for course description
http://tinyurl.com/2fc7xr4
*****
UNIVERSITY LENTEN STUDY FOR 2011
A Joint Project of the Multi-Faith
Chaplains and St. David's ACTS Ministry
This Year's Subject:
"Community and Growth" by Jean Vanier.
The book first appeared in 1989 and
continues to be widely read.
Learn from Vanier's years of experience
in L'Arche communities around the world.
This book will be of interest to those
who seek insights for living and
working together in a pluralistic
society such as our own.
This study is for university faculty,
staff and interested students. It runs
for six weeks.
Time: Thursdays, 12 noon to 1:00PM
March 3rd through April 7th, 2011
Cost: Free. Copies of the book available
for purchase, courtesy of the
Christian Reformed Chaplaincy
and thanks to Paul Verhoef
Location: Small Board Room, Native Centre,
McEwan Student Centre.
Vanier book study link:
http://tinyurl.com/4hkv66x
*****
REMINDER:
ST. DAVID'S 50th ANNIVERSARY
TOUR OF CELTIC LANDS - 2011
Airline tickets, a special travel booklet
with much good spiritual reflection material
and information about preparations to make
and places to be visited have been provided
this week to all persons on the tour.
36 PEOPLE ARE BOOKED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
JOURNEY TO CELTIC LANDS FROM APRIL 26th-May 10th.
We have started an interest list for other,
future tours!
Let me know if you are interested in learning
more about exciting, spiritual tourism! This
is a cutting edge ministry at St. David's.
We hope to do many more of these tours in future!
Take a look at the St. David's, Wales Sacred Site:
http://tinyurl.com/4gbg35t
*****
STUDY ARCHIVES
A collection of twenty-five+ studies conducted
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://bookstudies.stdavidscalgary.net/
This collection of study resources represents
a decade of Monday Night Studies at St. David's,
plus extra courses too!
You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.
******************************************
SPECIAL ITEM
My Winter University Course Summary:
GOD, ATHEISM AND MORALITY
Can We Be Good Without God?
Continuing Education Course HUM 142:
January 25th – March 29th, 2011
Meeting at University of Calgary
Main Campus, Science A, Room 129
Texts Used for the Course:
THE MORAL LANDSCAPE: How Science Can
Determine Human Values, by Sam Harris,
Free Press, Simon and Schuster,
Hardcover. 2010.
GODLESS MORALITY: Keeping Religion
Out of Ethics, by Richard Holloway,
Canongate (UK) New Edition,
Paperback, 2009.
The Authors Speak:
“Morality is a genuine sphere of human
inquiry, and not a mere product of
culture. Progress is possible."
- Sam Harris
“Moral struggles are frequently between
competing ‘goods’ rather than between
a straight good and a straight evil.”
- Richard Holloway
*****
Class Composition:
Members ranged from self-declared atheists
through persons of faith (some practicing,
some not.) People were drawn out of interest
in the subject, desire for a positive learning
experience, and a hope to discuss and
exchange ideas for personal growth. We were
people from across the believer-non-believer
spectrum who like debating ideas, sharpening
perspectives and enhancing understandings.
A clear climate of mutual respect prevailed.
First Session:
Introductions and expectations -
Expressing oneself and listening to others.
*****
NOTES ON HARRIS
Core thesis – Science can be the basis for ethics;
this is a critique of both traditional science and
religion. Of religion, which has tended to define
conflicting ethical codes for people in the name of
some divine force or deity; and of science which has
tended to stand outside ethical debates.
Moderates on both sides have failed; allowing
religious and scientific fundamentalists to define
the debate, and to stay out of the other’s turf.
We must not practice “moral blindness” in the name
of tolerance.” Values = facts.
“Well-being” is the supreme human moral value.
___
Philosophical Constructs
(My basic critique of Harris):
We discussed the history of philosophy as both
critique and support for theistic-based ethics.
Socrates evoked the myth of “Euthyphro” to
distinguish between ethics based on “the gods”
and ethics based on reason. A study of the
history of philosophical thinking can give us
a better background in the formulation of both
reason and faith-based ethics.
We discussed ethical systems based on “means”
and “ends” – ends justify means, (or) means
justify ends. Post-modern ethics understand
our world to be "relational." Static systems
are hard to apply today. Ethics must study
the complex situations of thought and action
(praxis) so that what we do in the present
defines what is ethical. Harris seems to lack
a solid background in the development of
philosophical thought over the centuries and
seems at times to be struggling to 'reinvent
the wheel.'
___
Free Will (Harris):
“If we really understood what our brains tell
us, we would act ethically.”
“We live, however, in a state of causality.
We know what is good but are often unable
to live it.”
“We inherit a dilemma. We 'know' but fail to
'act' on it. The result is frustration."
“Is there a resolution? Try, by intent to live
as ethically as possible; not with fatalism.”
Robert Burton, a scientist, critiques Sam Harris –
we must be realistic about what science can
accomplish in society in terms of shaping ethics.
"There is simply no getting rid of faith-based
thinking. The science/religion controversy will
not go away. We must learn to co-exist."
___
The Danger of Intellectual Dishonesty:
Harris claims Francis Collins (evangelical Christian
and former head of Genome Project) John Polkinghorne
(physicist and Anglican priest) and the editors of
Nature Magazine – are all intellectually dishonest.
They understand science but compromise their views
in favour of religious audiences which form majority
thinking in society.
The fact is, Harris too can be criticized for
intellectual dishonesty, and we discussed a number
of instances in the book where that seemed evident.
*****
NOTES ON HOLLOWAY
Core thesis – We must disconnect God and religion
from ethics. Still, God does not disappear. God
must be involved in our ethical struggles – not
as a moral arbiter, but as inspiration/companion
in our attempts to define realistic ethical
understandings.
The good life results from inner intentions and
awareness of observed consequences. The most
effective moral systems operate on consent, not
coercion. Ethics implies a competition of "goods"
not a fight over "good" vs. "evil." Each moral
system has a "good" and a "shadow side"
associated with it.
Leave God out of ethical systems, says Holloway.
___
Morality as an Art Form
Morality is an art form, writes Holloway, not a
science. It is like jazz compared to classical
music. It follows improvisation, not a fixed
score. The genius of improvisation is that it
is a better ethical metaphor to guide our
thinking and behavior.
Shame and fear are not good moral agents.
Appeal to tradition and authority is doomed
to failure because these sources contradict
each other and often result in violence.
“Personal choice” must replace “command
moralities.”
___
Classic Christian Morality Viewed Sex as Evil
Holloway critiques classic Christian morality
which saw sex as evil, and religious morality
has damaged many people. Today, there is a
shift in thinking among at least some religious
people who seek a different way of defining
Christian morals. We need to rediscover a
balance between the extremes of “religious
asceticism” and “over-indulgence.”
Still morality concerns us because we see a
breakdown of ancient traditions and
institutions.
The institution of marriage, for example,
is a case in point.
___
Other Contemporary Ethical Issues
Holloway discusses the gay/lesbian issue,
addictive substances like alcohol and drugs,
the "life wars" over abortion and euthanasia,
and the "reproductive supermarket" of natural
interventions (insemination, infertility)
genetic engineering and cloning, and surrogate
motherhood.
Harris works to create a new science-based
ethical system while Holloway has developed
his own faith system, applying his principles
to many current issues.
Of course, Holloway is criticized by Christians
with traditional perspectives for being a moral
relativist. Holloway, however would not view
himself in these terms. He says he is a realist.
"We do not resolve our problems by abandoning
traditional systems," he says. "But we honor
the reality that the systems we’ve inherited
run counter to many of our deepest human values
– like freedom, and choice. "We need to learn
to respond to situations with grace appropriate
to the event."
___
Summarizing Holloway:
We need to celebrate moderation, pleasure,
consent; an allowable diversity; since there
are many competing ethical "goods" out there.
We can work our way through the current
confusion, since humans are enormously
creative people. It is our glory.
*****
CLASS COMMENTS ON OUR TEXTS AND THEIR LEARNINGS
FROM BOTH AUTHORS AND OUR CLASS DISCUSSIONS
My most eye-opening discovery was how atheists are
ignored, even discriminated against in our society.
For example, at public prayers or with mottos like
"in God we trust."
Harris did not provide a clear, sensible way.
Holloway was more helpful. He addressed issues in
ways I found made sense.
Sometimes Harris picked the most infantile and
disgusting examples to make his point. Discussing
these matters in class brought some enlightenment.
OK. Let’s put Harris aside. Who should be involved
in the shaping of societal values?
Neuroscientists? No. Social scientists, poets,
philosophers… If you simply poke around in your
brains you lose something. Who is the "I" to form
the basis for moral behavior?
That is our struggle in these times.
We did well in our discussions together. Where
does morality come from? From us!
___
I didn’t learn a lot of "new things" but I was
able to revisit many thoughts I had not thought
about for many years and that was good. The
workings of the brain do not necessarily provide
us with a basis for morality. Harris rather
oversimplifies the issues although I found both
the Harris (TED) talk and the Holloway (interview)
videos to be helpful.
Harris speaks of female disfigurement and his
outrage at the Muslim faith for practicing vaginal
abuse. I too am outraged by this, but I do not
like the way he presents his case.
I enjoyed the class discussions around so many
issues like this. It helped me a lot.
___
I wonder about universal principles like “The
Golden Rule.” I wonder if there really is, in
fact, any possibility for universal principles
covering all humanity. This seems unrealistic.
All moral systems have good points, but they
have flaws to them as well.
We must use our wits to work out our moral
behaviors. Science cannot do this. Ultimately,
I believe that philosophy will help us make
appropriate “ad hoc” decisions.
___
I see society’s attitude to atheism as the last
form of acceptable prejudice. We have largely
overcome racism, sexism and are working on
religious tolerance. But atheism has not been
treated like the human rights issue it is.
There are few places to come together to discuss
these matters in an intelligent way and I am glad
I had this group to be and to talk with.
There is a stridency out there which is modeled
by many religious advocates. The new atheists
have had to challenge that stridency, sometimes
with their own form of it. But just as the first
anti-racists and pro-feminists had to be strident
to be heard and to make their presence felt, so
too with modern atheism.
Atheists are often branded as being intellectually
inferior, and shallow. They are criticized for
lacking compassion as well as lacking a desire to
lead ethical lives.
If people like Dawkins have "dissed" religion, it
is because so many religious types have "dissed"
atheism. Being "dismissive" of atheism is just as
bad.
People like Karen Armstrong do that much too readily.
___
My point of view was not so much changed but more
confirmed by these sessions. I was challenged, but
I continue to appreciate my value system. I was
pleased to discover, as a young mother of two,
that my brain still functions. I enjoyed the
intellectual discussions.
Harris did not change my mind. He did not stretch
my thinking. Holloway was more nuanced and helpful
in his presentation. Can science determine morals?
Yes and no. For some the answer is “yes” and for
others "no."
I believe we need human reasons for the ethical
answers we seek. I myself find more answers in
science than in spiritual persuits. Humans evolve
ethically over time, and science is also evolving.
I see a growing capacity for science to provide
answers in the future. I found Harris’ TED talk
more convincing than his book.
___
Harris was too reductionistic and does not tap
the social sciences for help. We can't deal with
morality in a vacuum - scientific or otherwise.
Atheists can disagree, and hopefully they can
do so respectfully. Harris has given us a
language, a framework to discuss these issues
and for that I thank him.
Science is a set of tools to help us reflect on
societal health. Holloway is a sign that others
can “get it” and I do appreciate it that some
Christians do, in fact, “get it.” I am not a
moral relativist; you can’t function that way.
Also, I do not like being discounted by comments
like "you’re not really an atheist, are you?" We
need to grow in our ability to engage each other
respectfully. But in the end, we must rely on
our wits.
*****
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Most appreciated by the class was the opportunity
to share and develop ideas in an environment of
comfort and freedom. There are not a lot of places
in our society where that seems to happen. Our
group climate and discussion was very helpful to
many.
Human rights attention needs to be directed to
the rights of atheists as other rights battles
are being won.
“How my mind has changed” was not so much the
experience of the group it seems, as “How my
thoughts have been challenged, refined,
affirmed and developed.”
Other study suggestions?
“A History of Humanistic Thought”
“Can Atheists be Spiritual; Aesthetic?”
“Non-theistic Faith and Morals” –
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
MARK NOLL
Book Notice
Publisher's Weekly
March 30th, 2011 -
CLOUDS OF WITNESSES:
Christian Voices from Africa and Asia
Mark A. Noll and Carolyn Nystrom.
IVP Books, $25. US (300p)
ISBN 978-0-8308-3834-9
Because Euro-Americans are largely unaware of
Christian history in Africa and Asia, the authors
set out to tell stories of Christian leaders from
Korea, China, Africa, and India. These narratives
from the 19th and 20th centuries stand on their
own rather than filling the pages with assessment
and evaluation, because “it is important first
simply to know before trying to judge,” the
authors write. Profiles of influential Christian
voices and activists range from Archbishop Janani
Luwum, a martyr in Uganda murdered by Idi Amin’s
regime in 1977, to Dora Yu, a woman considered
the foremost Chinese evangelist during the early
1900s. The otherwise brilliant book suffers from
uninspiring front matter, and while one strength
is the incredible detail harvested from missionary
journals, biographies, and autobiographies, the
first chapter immediately bogs down in minutiae
of church politics surrounding its subject,
Anglican martyr Bernard Mizeki. The value of this
book is the window it opens to a diverse world.
The authors maintain that these stories show
indelibly that the Holy Spirit has been active
across the world and across time.
(Coming in April)
_____
JIM TAYLOR
Web Log
March 30th, 2011
"Lonely Independence"
http://edges.canadahomepage.net/2011/03/
*****
REGINALD BIBBY
WILL RELIGION BECOME EXTINCT IN CANADA?
Other Countries in Similar Situation
Assist News
March 26th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4ze8tjw
---
"Predicting Religion's Demise
is Way Off the Mark"
by Reg. Bibby
National Post
Mar. 4th 28th
http://tinyurl.com/4gkt6op
*****
RON ROLHEISER
Column
March 24th, 2011
"Loving Our Enemies"
http://tinyurl.com/68fy4h9
*****
NET NOTES
THE GREAT EB
Christian Century
March 24th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/6j66bwc
*****
THREE MILE ISLAND ANNIVERSARY
Christian Science Monitor
March 28th, 2011
Picture Gallery
http://tinyurl.com/4fvmczm
*****
MODERN FAMILIES AND GAY ADOPTION
The Calgary Herald
March 24th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/66yaacf
*****
ANOTHER VEIL 'REVEALS' FACE OF JESUS
A Sister to the Shroud of Turin
Zenit News from Rome
March 28th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4v8q4jx
*****
LEARNINGS FROM 50 YEARS OF CONFESSIONS
A Priest Shares a Life of Discovery
America Magazine
Apr. 4th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4kvjngb
*****
N. KOREA ON 'KNIFE EDGE' OF HUNGER
6 Million People are Starving
The Guardian, UK
March 30th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/475vnsq
*****
INDIA DEBATES BAN ON GANDHI BOOK
Some See it as Dishonoring Him
Others Seek Freedom of Expression
New York Times
April 1, 2011
Book on Gandhi Stirs Passion in India
Joseph Lelyveld's new biography has been
banned in part of India because of its
discussion of an intimate relationship
between Gandhi and another man.
http://tinyurl.com/3wbwm6z
---
Ucan News
April 1, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4x86x9y
*****
PROTESTANTS SEE BIASED S. KOREAN MEDIA
See Press as Slanted Against Them
Ucan News
March 31st, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4gbpp29
*****
PRIEST WHO SUPPORTED WOMEN'S ORDINATION
IS RELEASED FROM HIS ORDER
Bourgeois Removed as Maryknoll Father
Two Catholic Views
Ucan News
March 30th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/6egkhf4
---
New Catholic Times
March 30th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/6ffh7bl
*****
CANADIAN WOMAN NEW HEAD OF
INTERNATIONAL SALVATION ARMY
Christianweek.org
March 29th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4le9qjv
*****
GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI
Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
28 March 2011
'Word is God' at Shakespeare theatre's season
in London
London (ENI news) Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in
London has entitled its 2011 season "The Word is
God" and will mark the 400th anniversary of the
King James Bible with a cover-to-cover reading
between Palm Sunday, 17 April, and Easter Monday,
25 April.
_____
Vatican will send observer to Libya conference
Rome (ENI news) - The Vatican said on 27 March that
it is sending an observer to tomorrow's conference
in London where foreign ministers from nations
involved in military action in Libya will discuss
the next steps in the operation, protection of
civilians and possibly humanitarian aid.
The Vatican's Apostolic Nuncio (ambassador)
to Great Britain, Bishop Antonio Mennini, will
communicate Pope Benedict XVI's desire for
"peaceful and lasting solutions" to the Libyan
conflict, according to Fr.Federico Lombardi,
director of the Holy See's press office.
_____
Lutheran church in Brazil marks
50 years of mission
New York (ENI news) - In 2011, the Evangelical
Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil marks
50 years of continuous mission among the
indigenous peoples of Brazil. A book, "A
Bridge Between Worlds," will be published
this year that details the gathered experience
and knowledge of the 50 years of mission among
the indigenous, 28 of which were coordinated by
the Council of Mission Among the Indigenous
(COMIN), according to the council.
*****
29 March 2011
Expert says faith groups play
an environmental role
Nairobi (ENInews)--Religious denominations
and people of faith play crucial roles in
caring for the environment and mitigating
the effects of climate change, according
to the head of the Alliance of Religions
and Conservation (ARC).
"[Faith groups] will not be able to answer
the scientific questions of climate change,
but they can change the way we behave. I
think we can address it. It will not happen
fast, but will happen sustainably," Martin
Palmer, ARC's general secretary told ENInews
on 29 March in Nairobi.
*****
31 March 2011
Christian Reformed church members
to meet with farm workers
Grand Rapids, Michigan (ENI news) - About
30 representatives of the Geneva-based World
Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) on 31
March will begin a conference on social
justice by visiting with low-paid, itinerant
tomato field workers in Immokalee, Florida
and calling attention to their concerns.
_____
De Santis appointed editor of ENInews
Geneva (ENI news) - Ecumenical News
International announces that Solange De Santis
has been appointed editor of the ecumenical
news service ENInews (www.eni.ch) on a one-year
contract from March 2011 to March 2012.
_____
African faith groups get funds
for environmental conservation
Nairobi (ENI news) - A UK-based
environmental conservation group said it
is offering financial support to African
faith groups to help them develop
environmental conservation plans.
"This is simply seed money to help
consultations to take place. We know for
faith communities to introduce new
dimensions to their work, is not easy,"
said Martin Palmer, general secretary of
the Alliance for Religions and Conservation
(ARC), based in Bath, England. He was
attending a conference in Nairobi on
religion and the environment, organized
by ARC and hosted by the All Africa
Conference of Churches.
_____
Churches in Argentina explore
faith and ecology
Buenos Aires, Argentina (ENI news) -
Several churches in Argentina explored
the subject "Christian faith and ecology:
towards an eco-ecumenical theology" in a
conference held 28-29 March at Instituto
Universitario (ISEDET), a Protestant
theological school.
The event was sponsored by ISEDET, the
Argentina-based Rural Reflection Group
and the World Student Christian Federation
(WSCF) Latin America and Caribbean region
and was supported by the World Council of
Churches (WCC) and the United Church of
Canada.
*****
1 April 2011
Christian communicators say women
treated unfairly by media
Little Rock, Arkansas (ENI news) - A more fair
and balanced representation and portrayal of
women in the media is one way journalists can
help create a more equitable world, said a media
observer and peace advocate."Fair and balanced
news media representation holds the potential to
enable the emergence of societies marked by non-
hierarchical social relations that guard ...
values of equality, justice and freedom from
discrimination," Sarah Macharia, programme
manager for media and gender justice of the
Toronto-based World Association for Christian
Communication (WACC), said 31 March at the
annual convention of the Religion Communicators
Council.
_____
British millionaire buys then
donates religious paintings
Canterbury, England (ENI news) - A self-
effacing multi-millionaire, Jonathan Ruffer,
59, has become a cultural icon here after
buying a series of 17th century religious
paintings from the Anglican church for 15
million pounds and then giving them back
so they can remain on public display and
potentially boost art tourism in parts of
the rundown northeast of England.
_____
Canadian Anglican, Lutheran councils
hold first joint meeting
Mississauga, Ontario (ENI news) - The
executive councils of the Anglican Church
of Canada (ACC) and the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) opened
on 1 April their first joint meeting,marking
a step toward deepening the denominations'
"full communion" relationship. Gathering
in Mississauga, Ontario, a suburb of
Toronto, the ACC's Council of General
Synod and the ELCIC's National Church
Council will meet until 3 April under
the theme "Growing Together."
_____
Deadly Afghan riots blamed on Quran burning
at Florida church
Washington, D.C. (ENI news) - The Florida pastor
who presided over the recent burning of a Quran
said the United Nations must protect Afghans from
deadly riots, even as he denied responsibility
for inspiring them.
*****
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Provided courtesy of Sojourners.online
March 28th, 2011
"Who feeds the world? My answer is very
different to that given by most people.
"It is women and small farmers working with
biodiversity who are the primary food providers
in the Third World, and contrary to the dominant
assumption, their biodiversity based small farms
are more productive than industrial monocultures."
- Shiva Vandana
---
March 29th, 2011
"To wash the feet of a brother or a sister in
Christ, to allow someone to wash our feet, is
a sign that together we want to follow Jesus,
to take the downward path, to find Jesus'
presence in the poor and the weak. Is it not
a sign that we too want to live a heart-to-
heart relationship with others, to meet them
as a person and a friend, and to live in
communion with them?"
- Jean Vanier
---
March 30th, 2011
"I thought that animals were always in the
trenches, in harm's way. Unless somebody,
somewhere could find a way to build a new
ark. It had to be bigger than my balsam
wood toy. It had to be big enough to carry
us all -- again."
- Brenda Peterson, from her book
"Build Me an Ark: A Life with Animals"
---
March 31st, 2011
"The power of nonviolence is not circumstance-
specific. It is as applicable to the problems
that confront us now, as to problems that
confronted generations in the past. It is not
a medicine or a solution so much as a healing
process. It is the active spiritual immune
system of humanity."
- Marianne Williamson, from her book
"The Healing of America"
---
April 1st, 2011
"No doubt a life of Jesus should be written
on one's knees, with a feeling of unworthiness
great enough to make the pen drop from the hand.
A sinner should blush for [his or her] temerity
in undertaking such a work."
- Francois Mauriac, from "Life of Jesus"
*****
ON THIS DAY
March 26, 1979 - the Camp David peace treaty
was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem
Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat at
the White House.
http://tinyurl.com/46ab7k2
_____
March 28, 1979 - America's worst commercial
nuclear accident occurred inside the Unit Two
reactor at the Three Mile Island plant near
Middletown, Pa.
http://tinyurl.com/4tzzagt
_____
March 29, 1973 - the last United States
troops left South Vietnam, ending America's
direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.
http://tinyurl.com/4rlgwox
_____
April 1, 1945 - American forces invaded Okinawa
during World War II.
http://tinyurl.com/3eqhnfq
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT
"The fullness of joy is to
behold God in everything."
- Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)
the first English woman writer
(end)
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