*****
GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telus.net
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
"Quicklinks" are included with many items
at the beginning of this issue. To get a more
complete picture, however, scroll down to
find your special selection in the body of
the blog.
*****
Dear Friends:
We have entered the season of Easter
and a number of pieces in this issue help
to bring Easter meaning to our attention.
The first is my Special Item entitled --
"Bunnies and Eggs are Just the Beginning"
which is my April Anglican Journal column.
http://tinyurl.com/n55ve5r
Second is the first of two parts on the theology
of inter-faith specialist Dr. Zeki Saritoprak, who
gave a presentation at my church in Calgary
last December. I have saved my notes of that
event to present to you now to coincide with
the appearance next week of his paperback
"Islam's Jesus." It is a helpful and current
reflection on the Muslim view of Jesus.
http://tinyurl.com/pjfrkaq
I will introduce this book to you next week.
I hope you will enjoy both Special Items.
Please scroll down to read them, and to
click several other links that illuminate
them.
--
Colleague Contributions -
Monica Kilburn Smith (Calgary AB) a Catholic
woman-priest shares an article on how the
confessional box in Catholic churches became
a place of shame in too many instances
http://tinyurl.com/pcf7zej
http://tinyurl.com/kpu5kgq
Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio TX) writes a
typically meaningful Easter meditation -
"Where to Find Resurrection"
http://tinyurl.com/lw4c4ra
Jim Taylor (Okanagan BC) also writes on
the resurrection theme:
"Easter - the Sunday that Divides Us"
http://tinyurl.com/n4tjpnj
--
Net Notes - I found eleven plus articles
on the www this week that I thought you
might find interesting.
"Francis "Most Trusted" Pope" - the people
of the Philippines have nothing but good to
say about the pope who visited them recently.
(UCA News) http://tinyurl.com/n5t8h4o
"Salvadoran General Deported" - 25 years
ago this man covered up the slaughter of
many people, including four Catholic nuns.
He emigrated to the USA and has lived in
Florida since then. Now, he has been deported
to an uncertain future back home in El Salvador
(National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/kykbj25
"Why Evangelicals Should Love the Pope" -
an interesting article, written by an American
evangelical Christian on how the pope shares
similar values and commitments (New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/otosjyh
"Ex-Muslim Writer Proposes Reformation" -
the author, who has left Islam, writes about
what she thinks her former faith needs to do
to become relevant in the modern world
(The Christian Post, NYT Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/nt6fzh2
http://tinyurl.com/qxq75ac
"A More Realistic Era for US-Israeli Relations" -
the current stand-off between America and
Israel provides the possibility of a new era
of maturity in the relationship between these
two nations (National Catholic Reporter, Sightings)
http://tinyurl.com/l9ggeu4
http://tinyurl.com/lwphc7s
"Jesus' Tomb Discovery Called Sensationalist" -
more than a decade ago, I reviewed a book on
the possible discovery of Jesus' bones that would
call into question the doctrine of the resurrection.
Now that story, once discredited, has revived
(The New York Times, the Christian Post, the
Globe and Mail) http://tinyurl.com/qjljvm4
http://tinyurl.com/o9mynfg
http://tinyurl.com/pvy9h3o
"Islam's Growth-Rate is Outpacing Christianity" -
a recent large Pew Study on the growth of two
major world religions provides a comparison
(UCA News International, Christianity Today)
http://tinyurl.com/m9j57c4
http://tinyurl.com/q4lqyww
"Tibetan Monasteries Ordered to Fly China Flag" -
further evidence of the Chinese commitment
to repress this small but valiant nation
(UCA News) http://tinyurl.com/ll3gjcz
"Billie Holiday: A Singer Beyond Our Understanding" -
on the 100th anniversary of her birth, the gifts and
tragedy of this great black American artist is recalled
(Jazz Night in America website, via Sojourners)
http://tinyurl.com/njpo2c5
"Obama Wants End to Conversion Therapies for Gays" -
a milestone in the sad attempts to "cure" gays, lesbians
and others appears to be getting official US government
condemnation (The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/mw3dfvq
"Congregation Praying for Pastor Detained in N. Korea" -
several weeks ago we reported on the detainment of a
Canadian pastor in North Korea. Now more on the story
(Christian Week online) http://tinyurl.com/kocklev
--
Wisdom of the Week - courtesy of Sojourners and
the Bruderhof online - are offered by the following:
Thomas Merton, Martin Luther King Jr.,
George Bernard Shaw, Dom Helder Camara,
N.T. Wright, Vandana Shiva, Charles Taylor
and Henri J.M. Nouwen
Please scroll down to read them.
--
On This Day -
From the archives of the New York Times -
"Peary and Henson Discover North Pole"
http://tinyurl.com/73ed4mr
"Picasso, 91, Dies in Southern France"
http://tinyurl.com/meyxgbs
--
Closing Thought - this week is provided by
Malala Yousafzai a Pakistani author.
Please scroll to the end of the blog to read
her and about her.
(end)
We are coming to the end of our program year,
except for our Holy Land Tour in October. If
you are interested in the activities we are
completing, please scroll to the end of the blog.
Winter/Spring 2015 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's United
and at the University of Calgary
*****
SPECIAL ITEMS
My Anglican Journal Column for April
"Bunnies and Eggs
are Just the Beginning"
http://tinyurl.com/n55ve5r
--
My Notes on a Lecture Entitled:
ISLAM'S JESUS
by Dr. Zeki Saritoprak
Held at St. David's United Church Calgary
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014
Presentor Bio:
Zeki Saritoprak is associate professor in the
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
and the Beddiüzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic
Studies at John Carroll University, Cleveland OH.
He is the author of numerous works on Islamic
theology in English, Turkish, and Arabic.
--
The event was a Calgary launch for the book
entitled"Islam's Jesus" (hardcover, 2014,
paperback, 2015) University Press of Florida.
This book is a comparative theology of Jesus
from a Muslim perspective, which differs in
intent from the recent title: "Zealot: The Life
and Times of Jesus of Nazareth" by Reza Aslan.
Aslan takes a religious studies approach to Jesus.
My review of that book appeared on the Anglican
Continuing Education Program website, last
January 12th, 2015:
http://tinyurl.com/plgmjdq
My review of the Saritoprak book will appear
next week in Colleagues List (April 19th, 2015).
http://tinyurl.com/pjfrkaq
About 60 people attended this lecture held at
the church just before Christmas. Many of the
attendees were Muslim and I had the opportunity
to welcome them. The event was co-sponsored
by the Intercultural Dialogue Institute of Calgary
Malik Muradov, executive director; the Faith and
Spirituality Centre at the University of Calgary,
Adriana Tulissi, coordinator; and the ACTS Ministry
(Adult Spiritual Development) of St. David's United
Church, Calgary. Interfaith dialogue is a priority
for all three groups.
---
Who was Jesus?
From a Muslim perspective, he experienced a
miraculous birth, born of the virgin Mary. He
is a bringer of peace, and one of five prophets
recognized by Islam - Noah, Abraham, Moses,
Jesus, and Muhammad. Muslims consider Jesus
to be a Muslim because he submitted to the
will of God. He is also viewed as a miracle-
worker and an intercessor on behalf of humans
before God.
Jesus in the Primary Islamic Sources
He is mentioned 90 times in the Qur’an and also
in the Hadith commentaries of Muhammad.
Some of the Qur’anic quotes originate in the
Christian scriptures, and also in secondary
Christian literature.
Many Jewish-Christian links to the Qur’an are
noted in the Torah, Psalms and Gospels. These
are all considered part of the Islamic faith,
just as Jesus confirmed to be a fulfillment of
the Jewish law and prophets.
Only God is worshipped, however. You don't
worship Jesus or Mary.
(Many references to Jesus in the Qur’an can be
located in the author's book.)
The Christian belief in the second coming of Jesus
(known in Islam as the 'descent') is blended into
the Islamic belief in eschatology or of last things.
Muslims assume a range of understandings of
Jesus based on their interpretation of the texts.
They range from modernist/minimalist through
literalist - with the majority being literalist.
Islamic scholars are inclined to take a non-
literalist but respectful understanding of the
return or decent of Jesus.
The author read a number of references to
Jesus in the Qur’an, the Hadith, and Sufi
mystical literature and then linked these
references to modern interpreters like the
Turkish spiritual leader Fethullah Gülen
who lives in exile in Pennsylvania.
Scriptural Literalism
Scripture literalism is a problem in Islam
today. We need to study and live in the
spirit, not the letter, of what we read about
Jesus and many other subjects in our scriptures
and sacred literature.
Inter-Faith Dialogue
This will help us in our inter-faith discussions
with Christians. Between us, we make up
58% of the earth's population. One of our
prophetic voices Said Nursi, a Turkish Muslim
spiritual reformer, wrote over 100 years ago
(in 1911) that dialogue between Muslims and
Christians is a growing necessity to help bring
about peace and justice in our world. He also
encouraged Christians to return to the original
message of Jesus, because he did not always
see Christians living as worthy followers.
http://tinyurl.com/p2wxm9k
Other Comments in Response to Questions:
In many cases, he quoted references to the
Qur’an in his answers -
Common Ground - we need to tone down our
rhetoric and avoid terms like "infidel" for
Christians and others. We are all People of
the Book. The original meaning of "infidel'
has been perverted in Islam.
Human Diversity - is part of God's way for
humanity. God could have made us one
community, but didn't. Difference can be
good. Compete with one another in doing
good. Come together to worship one God.
As peaceful offspring of Abraham we need
to fight poverty, addictions, and other
great human problems together.
One example of Muslim-Christian Dialogue
in our time is the greeting of Fethullah Gülen
to John Paul II (February, 1998) -
http://tinyurl.com/my56h5m
Conclusion:
A contextual reading of the Qur’anic
revelation suggests that for the sake
of co-operation, Muslims, Christians
and Jews and all other people of faith
should focus on shared ideas and
common values.
--
Editor's Ending:
Any errors in transcription of these notes
are my own. Please read my notice of the
author's book "Islam's Jesus" - in the
April 19th issue of Colleagues List.
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
Monica Kilburn Smith
Calgary, AB
http://tinyurl.com/pcf7zej
CBC Tapestry (radio broadcast)
March 20th, 2015
The Dark Box -
Sins and Secrets of the Confessional
http://tinyurl.com/kpu5kgq
--
Ron Rolheiser
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
April 6th, 2015
"Where to Find Resurrection"
http://tinyurl.com/lw4c4ra
--
Jim Taylor
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
April 5th, 2015
"Easter - the Sunday that Divides Us"
http://tinyurl.com/n4tjpnj
*****
NET NOTES
FRANCIS "MOST TRUSTED" POPE
Filipinos Rate Him Highest
UCA News
April 9th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/n5t8h4o
--
SALVADORAN GENERAL DEPORTED
Covered Up Churchwomen's Deaths
Lived 25 Years in Florida
National Catholic Reporter
April 9th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/kykbj25
--
WHY EVANGELICALS
SHOULD LOVE THE POPE
Like Jesus, Francis
Embraces the Outcast
New York Times
April 4th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/otosjyh
--
EX-MUSLIM WRITER
PROPOSES REFORMATION
Hirsi Ali Posits Five Points
for Changes in Islam
The Christian Post
April 9th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/nt6fzh2
"Heretic - Why Islam Needs
a Reformation Now"
Review of Her Latest Book
New York Times Review of Books
April 5th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/qxq75ac
--
A MORE REALISTIC ERA
FOR US-ISRAELI RELATIONS
National Catholic Reporter
April 10th, 2015
"A More Realistic Era
in US -Israeli Relations"
http://tinyurl.com/l9ggeu4
"Israel: Two Cases in Politics
and Freedom of Religion"
Sightings,
April 9th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/lwphc7s
--
JESUS' TOMB DISCOVERY
CALLED SENSATIONALIST
Findings Re-Ignite Debate
on Claim of Jesus' Bones
The New York Times
April 4th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/qjljvm4
The Christian Post
April 9th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/o9mynfg
From the Archives -
The First Jewish Christian:
Holst Review of "The Brother of Jesus"
Globe and Mail, April 26th, 2003
http://tinyurl.com/pvy9h3o
--
ISLAM'S GROWTH-RATE IS
OUTPACING CHRISTIANITY
This Will be Obvious by 2050
UCAN News International
April 6th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/m9j57c4
"Predicting Shifts in Christianity
and Islam by the Year 2050"
Christianity Today
April 2nd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/q4lqyww
--
TIBETAN MONASTERIES
ORDERED TO FLY CHINA FLAG
Head of Communist Party
Makes New Demands
UCA News
April 9th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/ll3gjcz
--
BILLIE HOLIDAY: A SINGER
BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING
100th Anniversary of Her Birth
Jazz Night in America
(via Sojourners)
April 7th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/njpo2c5
--
OBAMA WANTS END TO "CONVERSION
THERAPIES" FOR LGBT YOUTH
Seeks Stop to Therapies Seeking
Change in Sexual Orientation
The Guardian, UK
April 8th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/mw3dfvq
--
CONGREGATION PRAYING FOR
PASTOR DETAINED IN NORTH KOREA
He's Been Helping There for 20 Years
Christian Week Online
April 8th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/kocklev
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners and Bruderhof online:
| But now the power of Easter has burst upon us with the resurrection of Christ. Now we find in ourselves a strength which is not our own, and which is freely given to us whenever we need it, raising us above the Law, giving us a new law which is hidden in Christ: the law of his merciful love for us. Now we no longer strive to be good because we have to, because it is a duty, but because our joy is to please him who has given all his love to us! Now our life is full of meaning! - Thomas Merton -- |
| Easter comes out ringing in terms that we all hear if we seek to hear it, that the soul of man is immortal. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have fit testimony that this earthly life is not the end, that death is just something of a turn in the road, that life moves down a continual moving river, and that death is just a little turn in the river, that this earthly life is merely an embryonic prelude to a new awakening, that death is not a period which ends this great sentence of life but a comma that punctuates it to more loftier significance. That is what it says. That is the meaning of Easter. That is the question that Easter answers - that death is not the end. - Martin Luther King Jr. -- This is the true joy of life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. Life is no “brief candle” to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. - George Bernard Shaw -- When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist. - Dom Helder Camara --
-- Whenever we engage in consumption or production patterns which take more than we need, we are engaging in violence. - Vandana Shiva -- We define our identity always in dialogue with, sometimes in struggle against, the things our significant others want to see in us. Even after we outgrow some of these others — our parents, for instance — and they disappear from our lives, the conversation with them continues within us as long as we live. - Charles Taylor, "The Politics of Recognition" -- Praying is no easy matter. It demands a relationship in which you allow someone other than yourself to enter into the very center of your person, to see there what you would rather leave in darkness, and to touch there what you would rather leave untouched. - Henri J.M. Nouwen ***** ON THIS DAY From the Archives of the New York Times: "Peary and Henson Discover North Pole" http://tinyurl.com/73ed4mr "Picasso, 91, Dies in Southern France" http://tinyurl.com/meyxgbs ***** CLOSING THOUGHT - Malala Yousafzai "We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced." Malala is a Pakistani woman author and activist http://tinyurl.com/95fcy65 (end) ***** Winter/Spring 2015 Adult Spiritual Development ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's United and at the University of Calgary: MONDAY NIGHT STUDY - WINTER SERIES January 12nd – March 23rd, 2015 7-00-9:00PM TM Room. Ten Weeks. (Family Day Monday exempted) “Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence” by Karen Armstrong Led by Jock McTavish and Wayne Holst Registration $60.00. Book only $25.00 This study has ended. Forty books sold. Study design and class links http://tinyurl.com/k5ppruz
---
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDYJanuary 22nd - April 16th, 2015. Ten Weeks. 10:00-11:00AM TM Room Part Two - "Romans and James - Foundations for Christian Thought and Living" Study Leader: Wayne Holst No charge. Study resource - The DK Complete Bible Handbook http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q This study continues. ---
ST. DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS'
SPECIAL 2015 SIXTEEN DAY TOUR "Jerusalem and the Land of Three Great Faiths" October 16th - 31st, 2015 http://tinyurl.com/plg4sgo Hardcopy tour details brochure is available in the church lobby. Tour Company: Rostad Tours Calgary Tour Hosts: Wayne and Marlene Holst Sponsored by: St. David's ACTS Ministry Endorsed by: St. David's Church Council Talk with or write to Marlene and Wayne (403-286-7416) waholst@telus.net marleneaholst@gmail.com This tour is filled up with 30 registrants. Waiting List is open. --- UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE Interfaith Chaplains' Book Studies for faculty, students, staff, and campus guests - Winter, 2015 "Simply Good News" by N.T. Wright http://tinyurl.com/kwte3os Book Study Co-Sponsored by: The Faith and Spirituality Centre, University of Calgary and The ACTS Ministry, St. David's United Church, Calgary Native Centre Board Room McEwan Student Centre Fridays, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Five sessions. Feb. 27th, March 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th. Participants are encouraged to attend all five sessions. However, you may attend one or more sessions on a drop-in basis.
This study has ended.
Study Leader: Dr. Wayne A. Holst Book cost $20.00
*****
|
