At Grace Lutheran Church they have an Interfaith Blood Drive at the end of June every year to collect blood for the July 4th holiday and to promote understanding between different races, ethnic and religious groups in Toledo area. Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Baha'i are represented. An Interfaith Celebration is held on Sunday night following the blood drive.
I didn't feel well this weekend, but was keen to observe how things go in there. So, I went. The blood drive was like any other of its kind. The interesting part was the Interfaith Celebration at night. Representative from different religions would give short speeches accompanied by religious songs from each religion. The atmosphere was that of different religions putting their differences aside and coming together for a common cause. It was very fascinating, especially given the fact that it was the 20th anniversary.
When it came to Christian prayer, Pastor Jacobs and Rabbi Bienstock read together Psalm 8. The rabbi would read a few lines from Gates of Prayer in Hebrew and then the pastor would read the translation from Lutheran Book of Worship in English. They stood at left and right side of the altar.
And when it came to Hinduism, they had a full dance praying to the Sun and each of the planets, praising the significance of them. The choreographer explained a little bit about the meaning of some symbols and movements so that we could follow and understand different stages. It was a lengthy (10 minutes) performance and although I couldn't follow the symbolism to the end, I enjoyed the choreography. But even putting my Islamic beliefs aside, praying to the planets would sound pagan according to Christianity too. And doing it at the altar?
Well, I find it amazing that representatives of different religions could have tolerance for other religions but not for people of their own who happen to think differently about religious doctrines. I had seen that for so-called liberal Muslims who can respect non-Muslims but their tolerance ends for fellow Muslims (Sunni for Shia or vice versa). And today, I could witness the same in a church that has been hosting Interfaith Blood Drive and Interfaith Celebration for 20 years.
In the morning service, there were several inserts in the prayer bulletin. One of them informed people about the Jehovah's Witness coming into the city for their annual meeting in Toledo and it warned people that they would come door-to-door preaching their religious doctrines in a canned speech. And the pastor elaborated on the matter in his sermon. And to me, it sounded as if they warned people about the swarm of locusts.
And all that because those guys differ on some issues with mainline Protestantism (and it's difficult to speak of mainline given all the differences among Protestants). When I was in Nicosia, I had a chance to talk with one of those guys. And although I don't agree with all their convictions (e.g. issues like rejection of higher education or refusing blood transfusion that I find backward) I don't find them such horrible creatures to be seriously warned against in a Sunday Service. The guy in Nicosia was really cool and we enjoyed our time exchanging info about our religions and he didn't even try to push his beliefs (as evangelist kids here do so, wasting their time and mine).
Here, the main grievance (among others) was about their denial of Trinity and hence their belief that Jesus is not God. They do not reject Jesus as Son of God or Redeemer as some Christians accuse them; rather, they believe in the Kingdom of God where Jesus is the king and God's highest creature on earth. Is it such a big deal? To mainline Christians (who believe in Trinity) it is. Yet, those Christian who are so fond of interfaith dialogues and can get along with people who don't recognize Jesus Christ even as a prophet, can't stand fellow Christians who just deny Godhead of Jesus Christ. And I just wonder.
I didn't feel well this weekend, but was keen to observe how things go in there. So, I went. The blood drive was like any other of its kind. The interesting part was the Interfaith Celebration at night. Representative from different religions would give short speeches accompanied by religious songs from each religion. The atmosphere was that of different religions putting their differences aside and coming together for a common cause. It was very fascinating, especially given the fact that it was the 20th anniversary.
When it came to Christian prayer, Pastor Jacobs and Rabbi Bienstock read together Psalm 8. The rabbi would read a few lines from Gates of Prayer in Hebrew and then the pastor would read the translation from Lutheran Book of Worship in English. They stood at left and right side of the altar.
And when it came to Hinduism, they had a full dance praying to the Sun and each of the planets, praising the significance of them. The choreographer explained a little bit about the meaning of some symbols and movements so that we could follow and understand different stages. It was a lengthy (10 minutes) performance and although I couldn't follow the symbolism to the end, I enjoyed the choreography. But even putting my Islamic beliefs aside, praying to the planets would sound pagan according to Christianity too. And doing it at the altar?
Well, I find it amazing that representatives of different religions could have tolerance for other religions but not for people of their own who happen to think differently about religious doctrines. I had seen that for so-called liberal Muslims who can respect non-Muslims but their tolerance ends for fellow Muslims (Sunni for Shia or vice versa). And today, I could witness the same in a church that has been hosting Interfaith Blood Drive and Interfaith Celebration for 20 years.
In the morning service, there were several inserts in the prayer bulletin. One of them informed people about the Jehovah's Witness coming into the city for their annual meeting in Toledo and it warned people that they would come door-to-door preaching their religious doctrines in a canned speech. And the pastor elaborated on the matter in his sermon. And to me, it sounded as if they warned people about the swarm of locusts.
And all that because those guys differ on some issues with mainline Protestantism (and it's difficult to speak of mainline given all the differences among Protestants). When I was in Nicosia, I had a chance to talk with one of those guys. And although I don't agree with all their convictions (e.g. issues like rejection of higher education or refusing blood transfusion that I find backward) I don't find them such horrible creatures to be seriously warned against in a Sunday Service. The guy in Nicosia was really cool and we enjoyed our time exchanging info about our religions and he didn't even try to push his beliefs (as evangelist kids here do so, wasting their time and mine).
Here, the main grievance (among others) was about their denial of Trinity and hence their belief that Jesus is not God. They do not reject Jesus as Son of God or Redeemer as some Christians accuse them; rather, they believe in the Kingdom of God where Jesus is the king and God's highest creature on earth. Is it such a big deal? To mainline Christians (who believe in Trinity) it is. Yet, those Christian who are so fond of interfaith dialogues and can get along with people who don't recognize Jesus Christ even as a prophet, can't stand fellow Christians who just deny Godhead of Jesus Christ. And I just wonder.
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