- David Oughton, Ph.D., Department of Theological Studies - St. Louis University

Shabbat Service and Interfaith Celebration of Freedom and Social Justice on Friday, January 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel, 1 Rabbi Rubin Drive (on Ladue Road just east of N. Spoede, 63141). Rev. Earl Nance, Jr., pastor of Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, will receive the Malachi Award for Interfaith Relations and Understanding. Because of his recent illness, his wife Viola will accept the award for him and Rev. Starsky Wilson will deliver the annual Malachi keynote address.

World Religions Day will be observed on Saturday, January 14, at 7 p.m. at the Baha'i Information Center, 30 West Lockwood (just west of Elm) in Webster Groves, 63119. Bishop Howard Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will speak about his interfaith journey.

The Islamic Interfaith Dialogue lunch meetings will be at Aquinas Institute of Theology, 23 S. Spring, 63108, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in room 215 on the following Thursdays: January 19 and 26; February 2, 9, 16, and 23; and March 1. At these meetings a group of Jews, Christians, and Muslims study the Qur'an and the Bible together.

The exhibit "Reflections of the Buddha" which will be at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, 3716 Washington Boulevard, 63108, up to March 10. This museum is open on Wednesdays between 12 and 5 p.m. and on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. This special exhibit features over 20 Buddhist sculptures dating from the 2^nd century C.E. from different Asian countries.

The annual meeting of Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls will be held on Thursday, February 9, at 7 p.m. at the Commons Building at Eden Seminary, 475 East Lockwood, Webster Groves. Representatives from Judaism (Rabbi Ryan Dulkin), Christianity (Professor Tobias Winright), and Islam (Professor Gulten Ilhan) will discuss "Jihad and Just War." An election of officers will also take place at this meeting.

The 51^st meeting of St. Louis' Dialogue Group of the World's Religions and Philosophies will be held on Wednesday, March 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Wool Ballroom, the lower level of Busch Student Center (corner of Grand and Laclede) at Saint Louis University. Representatives of different religions will discuss the role of women in their religions.

The 22^nd annual Pow Wow will be held on Saturday, March 31, at the Washington University Field House, 330 North Big Bend, 63130. This event is sponsored by the Kathryn Buder Center for American Indian Studies.

The next meeting of the Global Ethic and Global System Association will be held on Sunday,

April 15, at 2 p.m. at the Baha'i Information Center, 30 West Lockwood (just west of Elm) in Webster Groves, 63119.

The Women's Interfaith Conference will be held on Wednesday, April 18, at B'nai Amoona Synagogue, 324 S. Mason Road, West St. Louis County, 63141.

Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) will be observed on Sunday, April 22, at 4:30 p.m. at Temple Israel, 1 Rabbi Rubin Drive (on Ladue Road just east of N. Spoede, 63141).

Interfaith Peace Program will be held on Sunday, May 6, at 2:30 p.m. at Fo Guang Shan, the Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Temple, 3109 Smiley Road, Bridgeton 63044.

- John MacEnulty

This performance is for healing the growing cultural rift between certain elements of this country and the Muslim religion. The estrangement is still in its early stages. We can be a part of heading it off. Please come and bring your friends of all political persuasions.

The basic idea of this night is that Rumi is the most popular poet in the United States today. We are in tune with the values and sense of love and beauty expressed by this great poet. He just happens to be the greatest Muslim poet of all time. And so without realizing it, we join cultures through the poetry of Rumi.

We need to see the commonality of our values as expressed through the poetry of Rumi. By pointing out the shared sense of love and caring we demonstrate that we share deeply with our Muslim brothers and sisters. This will be done by selected readings and musical interpretations of the poetry on the Native American flute.

We learn to respect the ways of others, that even the greatest of prophets needs humility. We learn that the highest levels of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are deeply rooted in the inexpressible mystery of the divine. We share the mystery in deep and beautiful ways that need to become a part of our cultural and political dialogue. May we begin to find our deeper connections through the poetry of Rumi.

There will be dialogue before and after this performance to see if we can find our true relationships. If you have ideas or opinions about Muslim, Christian, Jewish relationships please come and express your views, regardless of what they are that we may begin to share a deeper understanding of who we are to each other, Muslim, Christian, Jew.

John MacEnulty was the principal tuba player with the St. Louis Symphony from 1962 until 1982 when his playing career was ended by Bell's palsy, a paralysis of the facial muscles. He was conductor and executive director of the Belleville Philharmonic from 1983 until 1991 when this career was interrupted by cancer (lymphoma). After a near death experience and a major shift of life values John began a period of spiritual seeking, writing and meditating, culminating in the discovery of the Native American Flute an instrument which he describes as "much more than musical."

Fatemeh Keshavarz is professor of Persian and comparative literature and chair of the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures at Washington University in St. Louis. Her book "Jasmine and Stars, Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran" is a direct, frank, and intimate exploration of Iranian literature and society. Scholar, teacher, and poet, her fresh perspective on present day Iran provides a rare insight into this rich culture alive with artistic expression but virtually unknown to most Americans. She is also author of four previous books, including Reading Mystical Lyric: The Case of Jalal Al-Din Rumi.

Muhamed Hasic is Imam of the St. Louis' Islamic Community Center a largely Bosnian Muslim group. The Bosnians immigrated to the United States in the mid 1990s during the war, fleeing almost unimaginable suffering in their country and seeking solace in a new land. St. Louis has between 50,000 and 70,000 Bosnians, a substantial population. The Bosnians moved into old neighborhoods and opened businesses. They are widely credited by many in St. Louis with vastly improving areas of the city.

Howard Schwartz, professor of English at University of Missouri St. Louis, is a three time winner of the National Jewish Book Award. He is a nationally reknown writer of Jewish fiction, essays, and children's stories, as well as editing numerous publications. He has received awards and recognitions too numerous to list here. Suffice it to say that he is a nationally recognizd authority on Jewish culture and its relationship to the world community.

John Renard is a Professor of Theological Studies at St. Louis University. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University with focus on religious literature in Arabic and Persian, Islamic art history, and religion. He has written extensively on Islamic culture, including "All the King's Falcons: Rumi on Prophets and Revelation"

- the Interfaith Partnership / Faith Beyond Walls

This performance is for healing the growing cultural rift between certain elements of this country and the Muslim religion. The estrangement is still in its early stages. We can be a part of heading it off. Please come and bring your friends of all political persuasions.

The basic idea of this night is that Rumi is the most popular poet in the United States today. We are in tune with the values and sense of love and beauty expressed by this great poet. He just happens to be the greatest Muslim poet of all time. And so without realizing it, we join cultures through the poetry of Rumi.

We need to see the commonality of our values as expressed through the poetry of Rumi. By pointing out the shared sense of love and caring we demonstrate that we share deeply with our Muslim brothers and sisters. This will be done by selected readings and musical interpretations of the poetry on the Native American flute.

We learn to respect the ways of others, that even the greatest of prophets needs humility. We learn that the highest levels of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are deeply rooted in the inexpressible mystery of the divine. We share the mystery in deep and beautiful ways that need to become a part of our cultural and political dialogue. May we begin to find our deeper connections through the poetry of Rumi.

There will be dialogue before and after this performance to see if we can find our true relationships. If you have ideas or opinions about Muslim, Christian, Jewish relationships please come and express your views, regardless of what they are that we may begin to share a deeper understanding of who we are to each other, Muslim, Christian, Jew.

John MacEnulty was the principal tuba player with the St. Louis Symphony from 1962 until 1982 when his playing career was ended by Bell's palsy, a paralysis of the facial muscles. He was conductor and executive director of the Belleville Philharmonic from 1983 until 1991 when this career was interrupted by cancer (lymphoma). After a near death experience and a major shift of life values John began a period of spiritual seeking, writing and meditating, culminating in the discovery of the Native American Flute an instrument which he describes as "much more than musical."

Fatemeh Keshavarz is professor of Persian and comparative literature and chair of the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures at Washington University in St. Louis. Her book "Jasmine and Stars, Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran" is a direct, frank, and intimate exploration of Iranian literature and society. Scholar, teacher, and poet, her fresh perspective on present day Iran provides a rare insight into this rich culture alive with artistic expression but virtually unknown to most Americans. She is also author of four previous books, including Reading Mystical Lyric: The Case of Jalal Al-Din Rumi.

Muhamed Hasic is Imam of the St. Louis' Islamic Community Center a largely Bosnian Muslim group. The Bosnians immigrated to the United States in the mid 1990s during the war, fleeing almost unimaginable suffering in their country and seeking solace in a new land. St. Louis has between 50,000 and 70,000 Bosnians, a substantial population. The Bosnians moved into old neighborhoods and opened businesses. They are widely credited by many in St. Louis with vastly improving areas of the city.

Howard Schwartz, professor of English at University of Missouri St. Louis, is a three time winner of the National Jewish Book Award. He is a nationally reknown writer of Jewish fiction, essays, and children's stories, as well as editing numerous publications. He has received awards and recognitions too numerous to list here. Suffice it to say that he is a nationally recognizd authority on Jewish culture and its relationship to the world community.

John Renard is a Professor of Theological Studies at St. Louis University. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University with focus on religious literature in Arabic and Persian, Islamic art history, and religion. He has written extensively on Islamic culture, including "All the King's Falcons: Rumi on Prophets and Revelation"

- Mary Pedersen, Acting Executive Director, Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Wall

Statement by Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis in Condemnation of Cargo Package Incident

'... any attempted attack on a religious community, is an attack against all religions...'

November, 2010 -- The Muslim Community in St. Louis is grateful to law enforcement and security officials who successfully intercepted the explosive packages that were recently sent from Yemen, addressed to synagogues in Chicago.

Attempts of terrorism conducted by a small group of extremists should not overshadow the strong links and bonds between the Jewish and Muslim communities in the United States, particularly here in St. Louis. The Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis stands by the principle that any attempted attack on a religious community, is an attack against all religions. Indeed, the future of interfaith relations and cooperation is much stronger than the destructive ideology of the misled extremists.

Ghazala Hayat
Public Relations Chair
Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis

Upcoming St. Louis Interfaith Activities

• Dialogue Group of the World Religions and Philosophies
  The 48th meeting of St. Louis' Dialogue Group of the World's Religions and Philosophies will be held on Wednesday evening, November 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Saint Louis University in the St. Louis Room of Busch Student Center (northeast corner of Grand and Laclede). Parking is available in the parking garage on the southwest corner of Grand and Laclede. Representatives of Sikhism, Judaism, the Baha'i Faith, and Unitarian-Universalism will discuss how their religions view scientific theories such as the Big Bang and the theory of evolution. Representatives of other religions will then join in the discussion. This event is free and open to the public.
• Rumi's Wedding Night
  A celebration of poetry, music and dialogue between Muslims, Jews and Christians will be held on December 17th at 6:15pm at the Ethical Society.
• Albanian Muslims Who Saved Jews During the Holocaust
  Photos will be on display at Temple Emanuel from Oct. 21st - Dec. 1st on Thurs. evenings from 5pm-8pm, on Sat.'s and Sun.'s noon-4pm or by appt. The event is FREE. www.testl.org & www.eyecontactfoundation.org
• Creches and Carols
  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting their 6th Annual Creche's and Carols Nativity Exhibit. Hundreds of nativity scenes from all over the world will be on display at the Frontenac Chapel from Dec. 2nd 7pm-9pm, Dec. 3rd 12pm-8pm, Dec. 4th 12pm-8pm, & Dec. 5th 12pm-8pm. The event is FREE with many children's activities and family photo opportunities. www.Stlcrecheexhibit.com

Sacred Times for our World Religions 

• November 12th - Birth of Baha'u'llah - Baha'i
• November 15th - Waqf al Arafa-Hajj-Islam Nativity Fast through December 24th - Orthodox Christian
• November 16th - Eid al Adha - Islam

- Liz Nelson, Mom

Last week, my 8 yr old, Karl, was my "date" at the 19th annual Interfaith Partnership dinner. See George Philips' article in this email for details of the evening. I was curious how Karl perceived the event, given that he'd been reading "A Faith of My Own," a book that includes kids describing their faith practices and beliefs. We processed our evening together; here are some highlights:

• We looked at the tables of religious objects from different faiths-chalices, holy books, prayer shawls: "The Qu'ran has really cool script in it. It looks like sanskrit. And the prayers [there were translations] sound a lot like ours." And the handouts about the facts and main teachings of each religion confirmed for both of us that the Golden Rule really is universal;
• I asked him for his take on why the IFP exists and what we were celebrating that night: "I think interfaith dialog is the best idea I've ever heard of. I think we should try to practice a different faith for a little while to see what it's like to put ourselves in their shoes. That way, if they have a problem, you would probably have a similar one and you can help them. It'll help us have more understanding with each other. I think we need that."
• I tried to get a sense of whether he thought his generation could improve upon some of the interfaith understanding (or lack thereof) currently out there: "Well, you definitely need to get to know the real people from the different faiths before you act like you hate them. That crazy guy who way trying to burn the Qu'ran didn't learn about the faith so he could understand them. If you do that, you won't want to hurt them."

And, although Karl had some trouble focusing on the talk by Rabbi Sandmel (on how dialogue must move beyond mere tolerance toward action together), he did have opinions on another crucial part of the evening....the "fancy meal": "The chicken was great, but I didn't like the green beans. And the edible flower was awesome!" Here's hoping that we're teaching the kids of today to value differences, celebrate similarities and work together for a greater good.

- George Philips