One of the the greatest reasons for creating this blog is the creation and development of friendships. Out of this I have come to make a new friend and also come to know older friends better. This post is the latter.
The discussion happened when I met up with Jonathan who was doing a fundraiser to raise money for Evergreen Hillel that morning. It was originally for the Undergraduate Thesis but the discussion moved beyond the questions as we talked.
Jonathan is one of my friends from my Freshman year of College but who I didn't really talk to in depth until today. In the discussion I found that both of us saw God similarly and I learned what being Jewish means to him. We talked about connection with God through music, nature and community. We also discussed the Reform movement and about it's more universal approach in preaching the Torah by having services be in both English and Hebrew.
Near the end we got on the inclusiveness and exclusiveness of certain religions. Specifically the more Orthodox faiths in any religion who see other interpretations of the religion as not the true interpretations. It's from this mindset that of "the Other" that so much conflict happens in the first place. God's truth becomes something that breaks people apart and causes people to die for reasons that can sometimes mirror nationalism verses the sacrifice and compassion of a loving, just, universal God who speaks in many contexts and brings out virtue in people no matter their cultural practice or experience of the Divine.
It was rich discussion in which I learned so much. I'm excited to visit Temple Beth Hatfiloh the Reform Synagogue in town later this week.
Showing posts with label New friendship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New friendship. Show all posts
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, December 19, 2010
19th Day of Advent - Our Savior Lutheran Church - Issaquah, WA - December 19th 2010
What is Lutheranism? Lutheranism was the first Protestant faith to rise out of the reformation. It was founded by the Priest Martin Luther when he was unable to bring about reform in the Catholic Church. The core differences between Lutheranism and Catholicism is the non-belief in the Pope, the belief in justification through faith alone and the Bible is the only reliable and final source on issues of morality and God's Law since every word is believed to have been inspired by God. Lutheran's also have female pastors which I really like about the faith.
The day I attended Our Savior Lutheran Church was the 19th day of Advent. When I first came I talked briefly with the pastor and educational director...I'd attended this Church once before with Youth Exploring Spirituality (YES) but that had been years ago. I had no clear memories. The day I arrived the youth were putting on the nativity but it was done differently this year where each of the grades was asked a question in regards to what Christmas meant. One of the inspirations for this was what Jesus said in Matthew 18:2-4,
"I tell you the truth. You must change be like children. If you don't do this. You will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The greatest person in the Kingdom of Heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child."
Family and friends were the greatest theme outside of the birth of Jesus for what Christmas means. This theme fit with the first quote of the service. John 4:8 "Anyone who does not love, does not know God, because God is love." The community the kids expressed was of love and was what Christmas means. Christmas is about sharing love with family, friends and partner. In Christianity this is shown in God becoming Man because he loved humanity so much, and this informs the theology of love in Christianity...which I believe is the essence of all faiths.
The readings and structure of service reminded me a little of Catholic Mass, as well as the vestments of the Pastors. There was Communion at the end of the service, there were prayers for the Church (all those who were suffering) and the World. It was a really beautiful all inclusive prayer with peace and healing as it's aim. There was also the Lord's Prayer and a similar prayer of the people lifting their hearts up to the Lord before offering it to one another.
After the service I would talk to the Pastor for a while about service in the community, and how Our Savior Lutheran Church actually made it pretty easy (as far as the causes you could give to immediately) and I told him about my goal of creating understanding and peace between religions. We exchanged information and I'm excited to talk with him again, hopefully later this break.
The day I attended Our Savior Lutheran Church was the 19th day of Advent. When I first came I talked briefly with the pastor and educational director...I'd attended this Church once before with Youth Exploring Spirituality (YES) but that had been years ago. I had no clear memories. The day I arrived the youth were putting on the nativity but it was done differently this year where each of the grades was asked a question in regards to what Christmas meant. One of the inspirations for this was what Jesus said in Matthew 18:2-4,
"I tell you the truth. You must change be like children. If you don't do this. You will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The greatest person in the Kingdom of Heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child."
Family and friends were the greatest theme outside of the birth of Jesus for what Christmas means. This theme fit with the first quote of the service. John 4:8 "Anyone who does not love, does not know God, because God is love." The community the kids expressed was of love and was what Christmas means. Christmas is about sharing love with family, friends and partner. In Christianity this is shown in God becoming Man because he loved humanity so much, and this informs the theology of love in Christianity...which I believe is the essence of all faiths.
The readings and structure of service reminded me a little of Catholic Mass, as well as the vestments of the Pastors. There was Communion at the end of the service, there were prayers for the Church (all those who were suffering) and the World. It was a really beautiful all inclusive prayer with peace and healing as it's aim. There was also the Lord's Prayer and a similar prayer of the people lifting their hearts up to the Lord before offering it to one another.
After the service I would talk to the Pastor for a while about service in the community, and how Our Savior Lutheran Church actually made it pretty easy (as far as the causes you could give to immediately) and I told him about my goal of creating understanding and peace between religions. We exchanged information and I'm excited to talk with him again, hopefully later this break.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Discussion with Johnson (My friend and a Youth Leader of Generation Church) - September 2nd 2010
I think I need to make something clearer. If I'm interviewing you I consider you important and personal to me, not a data point. This blog is meant to cover my own spiritual journey, discovery and experiences. Johnson and I had a mix-up during the discussion on this issue. But it is all okay now. This is for future reference for other people I discuss their faith with. The discussion is a shared experience of growth and I learn a lot from the people I talk too. You interviewees matter to me, just by being yourself and being present in the discourse that is conversation and growth. This blog is my spiritual journey shared with everyone else. You matter and are a part of it.
Today was the day I met up with Johnson. I am friends with his sister and see her as an adopted sibling and have met him once. But it had been years, today was the day we were able to meet and share out faith journeys and how we got to where we are today.
Johnson shared with me his parents' back story on how they became Christians and also the moving around he experienced in his life and how it brought about separateness and difficulty to form friendships. This reminded me of my Mom's experience, her being a Navy Brat who also lived in many locations as she grew up through childhood. From experiencing racism andAlabama (and not letting racism directed towards him, poison him) to Malaysia, to Texas and here in Washington. The experience of not letting bitterness entrench itself was something I could relate to myself. The Mormon Church taught me a lot, and helped me grow, and though I could never rejoin or become a member again. I'm grateful that it was a still a part of my life and growth.
We also talked about the importance of family, and at least for myself, however a family may be, if people can work out their issue with each other and reach peace, then there is a bit more hope for the world. How can communities and tribes get along if there is hatred between those connected through biologically and love?
He shared with me his personal relationship with Jesus and how in his difficult times the ways God has been there and helped him through.
One of the powerful moments is when Johnson read me 1 Corinthians 4-7. The passage is about the definition of love, and is one of the best definitions I have heard. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." This is how I understand love, and hope I practice it always.
Generation Church was where he connected to God the most which was different from his Parent's Church. One of the miracles in his life was being able to move back to Seattle after being so far way from his Church community and family. He shared Psalm 18 with me, which is about a man defeating his enemies with God's help and how it had helped him through a difficult trial in his life, when it's personal meaning clicked.
I told Johnson about my vision experiences I've had during certain services. Which I'd never told anyone except my girlfriend and a few other friends and he called it a gift. I'd' never heard it called that before, and opening up about the visions helped me grow and better accept that part of myself, a part that I may never understand.
During the conversation we of course about Christianity, and I talked about one of the reasons I don't see myself, ever able to join Christianity. The issue is the problem of Evil. In the Bible God commits hanus acts against his own creations, from destroying entire civilizations, to allowing His people to do that to one another. Allowing the existence of Evil Incarnate (The Devil in Christianity) is also wrong. I'm unable to see how these acts and allowing evil in the world is any way loving, or makes sense when something is the perfect, personal Good.
It was a blessing to receive hisperspective and to form a friendship in our shared experiences of being an outcast and faith exploration. We also both are very aware of how much we still have learn, and are students of life.
Today was the day I met up with Johnson. I am friends with his sister and see her as an adopted sibling and have met him once. But it had been years, today was the day we were able to meet and share out faith journeys and how we got to where we are today.
Johnson shared with me his parents' back story on how they became Christians and also the moving around he experienced in his life and how it brought about separateness and difficulty to form friendships. This reminded me of my Mom's experience, her being a Navy Brat who also lived in many locations as she grew up through childhood. From experiencing racism and
We also talked about the importance of family, and at least for myself, however a family may be, if people can work out their issue with each other and reach peace, then there is a bit more hope for the world. How can communities and tribes get along if there is hatred between those connected through biologically and love?
He shared with me his personal relationship with Jesus and how in his difficult times the ways God has been there and helped him through.
One of the powerful moments is when Johnson read me 1 Corinthians 4-7. The passage is about the definition of love, and is one of the best definitions I have heard. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." This is how I understand love, and hope I practice it always.
Generation Church was where he connected to God the most which was different from his Parent's Church. One of the miracles in his life was being able to move back to Seattle after being so far way from his Church community and family. He shared Psalm 18 with me, which is about a man defeating his enemies with God's help and how it had helped him through a difficult trial in his life, when it's personal meaning clicked.
I told Johnson about my vision experiences I've had during certain services. Which I'd never told anyone except my girlfriend and a few other friends and he called it a gift. I'd' never heard it called that before, and opening up about the visions helped me grow and better accept that part of myself, a part that I may never understand.
During the conversation we of course about Christianity, and I talked about one of the reasons I don't see myself, ever able to join Christianity. The issue is the problem of Evil. In the Bible God commits hanus acts against his own creations, from destroying entire civilizations, to allowing His people to do that to one another. Allowing the existence of Evil Incarnate (The Devil in Christianity) is also wrong. I'm unable to see how these acts and allowing evil in the world is any way loving, or makes sense when something is the perfect, personal Good.
It was a blessing to receive his
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