It's been a while since I've done a faith visit. Partially due to job searching (which has now been resolved) and partially from ambivalence and wondering where to go next...while not wanting to do a repeat visit to a faith community. Well today I would learn a little bit about this sect of Methodism as well as see some old mentors of mine and become re-acquainted with Interfaith. A part of myself which I don't think will ever go away.
The Interfaith event that brought me to my first Methodist Church was the Interfaith Amigos. They are a rabbi (Ted Falcon), pastor (Don Mackenzie) and sheikh (Jamal Rahman) who became friends after 9/11 and sought to use their mystic perspectives within their faiths to try and bridge the divide between different religions, but specifically the major 3 that came from Abraham. Rabbi Ted and Sheikh Jamal have been mentors to me in regards to Interfaith and their first book, "Getting to the Heart of Interfaith" was one of the major books I used for my Senior Thesis on how to promote successful interfaith between the 3 major religions from Abraham.
Before the event started I talked to Jamal and Ted for a while before running into someone who I will talk later about (future post later).
The event was built around their second book they put out, "Religion Gone Astray," I brought the first book that I already owned and used for my Thesis for the book signing afterword. It started out with the three talking about 9/11 brought them together and what they believe is the core of each faith. For Judaism "Oneness" for Christianity "Unconditional Love" and for Islam "Compassion." They talked about this and also tackled the problems within their faiths such as the history of their faiths in regards to the rights of women, gays and the Arab-Israeli conflict. The big thing on homosexuality and the Arab-Israeli conflict that were mentioned is how those who hate do not know people of other religions or the group they are hating and how in their personal and experiences they've had together have seen on the grassroots level those divides going away with getting to know "the other," with the end goal of helping others to get rid of the exclusivity within faiths to having the Truth, since so much conflict comes from that.
They demonstrated this with quoting the most exclusive passages from their scriptures and then interpreted them to give them new meaning or what they believe the original meaning was.
Example, "I am the way the truth and the light, no one can come to the father except through me." To mean God is the way the truth and the light, no one can come to God except through God. Since "I am" is the name of God in the Old testament.
From my experience I do have some issue with this but that's mostly due to the fact that there is no way to know if this or the traditional Trinitarian interpretation is correct. Which is why I am so agnostic when it comes to religion.
Seeing them being upfront about the human rights issues within each of their faiths, as well as ways to bring out the best in each of their faiths reminded me of why I'd been drawn to interfaith in the first place. They stated early on where the major problems at interfaith events were when people talked about their similarities and only that, or people talked about their differences...in both cases it missed the personal reasons for why a person is a member of any faith in the first place and moves it away from the interaction at hand to the abstract...which tends to kill connection in religious dialogue. The personal is where the connection happens and where there is the possibility for change.
After they sang there theme song, "It's all one and I am as I am." In Arabic, Hebrew and English their dialogue ended and it was opened up to questions. Most of the questions were understandably for Jamal since right now Islam does have the most problems related to the issues that were discussed. He did a good job answering the questions, as they all did. For all it was showing how they saw the core teaching relating to the context and history of the passages or how their religion has gone astray on human rights and their personal experiences with it.
It ended with coffee, treats and a book signing and I had the pleasure of talking to a retired Methodist pastor and the pastor of the Church, before and after the event...which will be a story for another a day.
“The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.” ― John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
Anyone who has been watching the news over the last few days has seen the violent protests that have erupted all over the middle east. There are many reasons for it but one of the highest mentioned ones by the protesters is the film "Innocence of Muslims." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19625167
The content of the film in the end matters very little. The people who wished to silence the views expressed in it would have found another justification to do so, much like what Salman Rusdhie experienced when Iran's Ayatollah declared a Fatwa on him for writing the "Satanic Versus," (A book not even explicitly about the prophet Muhammad) and also other people who have done work explicitly critical of Islam.
The limits of free speech legally are an ongoing conversation. Much like a person cannot scream fire in a crowded theatre or commit libel against another, but that conversation should never be dictated by thugs. The threat of death for the sharing of an opinion should not even be on the table. It is savage and barbaric and has no place anywhere in society or in any group of people. Extortion is something that should play no part on how the courts and people define free speech's limits.
This is important because shutting down the conversation doesn't give the other a chance to correct the opinion through reason. As John Stuart Mill beautifully illustrates in the quote above. Freedom of speech means more than any one person's feelings. If someone is offended they can write why the person is wrong, they can mock the other person...they can do countless things that don't involve killing, violence and extortion.
Another point that must be brought up is why any one group should deserve special protection from being critiqued? Why should Islam and Muhammad deserve special treatment when Jesus, Buddha, Moses and countless others have been on the cutting board since people finally were able to critique these figures without the threat of death hanging over their head (blasphemy laws in Europe and the West that existed years ago). To whitewash their legacies is to a lie about who they were as flawed human beings.
Connected to this is the danger in those laws that once existed. Who is defining what "Blasphemy" is? Isn't blasphemy by it's very nature a thought crime? In all the places were such laws exist (Iran, all over the Middle East, etc.) Minorities suffer for it. There is no protection for Christians, Jews, Baha'i, Sufis, Ahmaddiya Muslims and Sunnis and Shiites (depending on which faction is in control of the government in regards to Sunnis and Shiites) and other religious minorities. They actually live in fear for their lives and can't speak about why they believe in their religion without getting targeted in many cases. This is directly tied to free expression (and also the separation of Church and State...which will be another blog post for another day). http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/opinion/friedman-look-in-your-mirror.html?hp
The final piece I wanted to touch on was the liberal hypocrisy in regards to Islam. I consider myself moderate liberal and find it sad and hypocritical that the left is comfortable criticizing and mocking conservative Christianity, but never does so with conservative and radical Islam. This is hypocrisy that should be pointed out. No group is above criticism and radical Islam does have problems that should be brought up and problems that are worthy of satire and mocking, just like conservative (and Liberal) Christianity and religion as a whole.
Part of what tolerance and acceptance means is accepting views that make you uncomfortable. You have no right to shut another down simply because you are offended. Just as they do not have a right to keep you from expressing your opinion. That's what freedom of speech means. It means allowing a place for the views you disagree with.
What an experience the last year has been. The experience of the people, the history, religion and my time as a teacher are memories I will never forget. I might be teaching one last year in China as well, though that is something I'm still figuring out.
Religion in China is complicated. Historically it has been used to both promote the status quo of power (power of the gentry and noblemen through Confucianism and the Emperor as "Son of Heaven") while also acting a force of resistance against the gentry in government, as seen by movements such as the Yellow Scarves, the Taiping Rebellion and others. Many times they were used to empower the people by having communal food for all and other means of supporting the families who joined said movements.
An interesting point is that even the Cultural Revolution could not do away with the old traditions. The old ways were never fully crushed. This past school year I worked in the countryside and took part in Mid-Autumn Festival with my colleague who is also a friend and saw the fruits that were laid out in honor of the Moon Festival and in hopes of wealth and success.
First I want to mention Confucianism and how important it has been historically in relationship to education. When Confucianism became the base for the hypothetical reason for lords being able to advance, China became one of the earliest meritocracies. This focus on reading, writing and general knowledge in Confucianism is a part of the Chinese system that lives on this day, and is something any nation can learn from.
I also visited Linggue Temple in Baoying a few times and witnessed how much a part of life it is for the community. The Temple is an important part of funerals, marriages, births and festivals. A few years ago I saw Fajing Temple in Hangzhou serving the same purpose. Religion in China helps with facing all the different parts of an individuals life.
Though like America, there is also the corruption and connection to Money. At Linggue Temple my friend and I would get conned by a man who worked there and I would witness in Suzhuo the Xuan Miao Taoist Temple and it's connection to money by blessing gold at a gold shop that sat just outside the Temple...that whole area was the market and material meeting the ancient rituals and philosophy that contradicted said materialism.
China has also had a great diversity of faith. The Abrahamic Faiths of Judaism, Islam and Christianity have all settled to some degree in China (less so Judaism though), as well as the ancient traditions that still carry on and the big three of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.
The big three with a few exceptions still live the contemplativeness of their past teachers. Many a Buddhist and Toaist Temple can still be found on top of a mountain, and most temples are designed to be large spaces...like a cathedral. You can get lost in reflection and can see how nature is always changing and impermanent in the fish, plants and turtles that are living within the Temples.
There will always be more to write, but these are some of the major things I noticed during my amazing year teaching in China.
The last place of historical and religious significance we would visit
was the Tombyard of Puhaddin. Beyond the peacefulness of the place, the
thing that stood out was how well the place had been kept and the
history of the relationship between China and Islam that was present.
The Tombyard is still used today for some worship services and because
of it some areas are locked off from tourists...such as the prayer hall
which I was able to catch a glimpse of through the small windows that
covered the door of the hall.
The entrance to the Tombyard is
a large gate which leads into a garden that's not feeling it's best. A
lot of the grass and plants are dead and the water looks a bit
malnourished, but there are still areas where it feels like a peaceful
garden should...such as the hill top that leads the second gate where
there are areas to sit and rest.
The second gate is like an
entrance to any Temple where its a circular entrance, though the colors
are not temple colors. The Tombyard itself is made up of greens and
whites as the main color. One of the areas that stands out the most in
the Tombyard is the Pagoda that was made where prayer is called. It is
made in the style of Chinese architecture (the curved roof) though at
the top is a moon, a symbol of Islam and where we were located. Right
next to the Pagoda was a walkway honoring a general whom an Emperor had
honored. We went up to the top of the Pagoda and were able to see the
building housing some of the greater Tombs (Like Puhaddin's Tomb). The
Tombyard is a mixture of Chinese and Arabic architecture which really
gives it a feeling of history (beyond the ancient tombstones
themselves). It is quite a lovely and peaceful and has so much
information.
Beyond the second gate is where the gravestones
are as well. The gravestones date all the way back to the Song Dynasty,
and in the room across from the tombs are coal copies of Yuan Dynasty
era tombstones with translations of what had been inscribed in Arabic.
Each room has its purpose listed, as well as when it was built and its
importance to the Muslim community in Yangzhou.
The area had
so much history present. Both of the warriors honored in the Tomb and
those the Chinese Lords had chosen to honor like Puhaddin who was a
teacher in Yangzhou. Most of the people honored were warriors and
merchants from the Song all the way to the Qing Dynasty.
While
we were there a small tour group was being lead through all the areas
of the Tombyard. Historically China has never been at odds with Islam
even though Chinese and Muslim Empires had fought in the past, there
isn't the same legacy of the crusades and conquest of Spain and the
Ottoman conquest and because of it, there isn't the same bad blood
between China and Islam as there is between Europe and Islam.
The area spoke of harmony between the two cultures and could be seen in
a small way in the small tour group where the Muslim guide guided a
more traditional looking Chinese family through the Tombyard telling of
the rich history of this powerful place.
Many of you may be wondering why it has taken me this long to write a post on Islam. The reason for this was the difficulty of me reaching an Islamic Center in the times I've been in Olympia and around University of Washington. In both instances I got lost trying to find the Islamic Centers of both areas. Well, I'm happy to say that I've finally been able to do the visit after years of not visiting an Islamic community.
After two times of attempting to meet up with the Interfaith Coordinator of the Islamic Center of Olympia for a ride, I finally was able to meet up and get a ride there.
What are my thoughts on Islam? I think some of the evil that attributed to Islam is in some cases valid (homosexuality is viewed as a sin and in the Quran, like the Old Testament...punishment is death), women cannot lead prayers where both sexes are present, separation of the sexes (this is a huge issue with me in regards to Orthodox Judaism, and other conservative religions as well). But on issues of groups like Al Qaeda and people who do honor killings. The honor killings are a tribal custom that needs to be changed, and groups like Al Qaeda are like the NRA, using religion as an excuse to commit nonreligious acts (Though my issues with Kings and the Bible still apply to the Quran, God ordering the killing of sacred life (or punishing it to Hell). I don't see how that can be good in any instance.
In my visit though I overwhelmingly experienced the good, and got to talk about some of the bad afterword...which I will get to farther into the blog. We arrived when the afternoon call to prayer was taking place and hurried. Shoes were left outside and we entered into the room where all the other men were. The Iman was up front leading the call to prayer and then began preaching about Time. He preached about how God created time and how it is a gift and precious to us and that we must make the most of it by living with righteousness and virtue. This made sense to me and is one of the parts of the Quran (like Jesus's Golden Rule, actions to the poor, and many psalms) that transcend the era it was written and can apply to any time.
I joined in the end of the prayer and felt the connection that I'd forgotten that always came with the full body bowing. This act of submission and vulnerability is such a powerful act. It would be the ultimate act of one person honoring another if they both bowed this way, or an act of veneration simply in the way the body speaks. This is one thing I have always found beautiful and good about Islam. The goal of Islam is to live that prayer in everything (with Quran as guide), just as the goal for a Christian is to live like Jesus with the New Testament as a guide.
After prayer I talked to the people. There was a man whose family lives in a small town in Libya. It was wonderful to know they were safe, and one of the leaders of the Mosque is living in Tripoli now and has snipers on his roof as Gadaffi is preparing for war...I talked to one of the Board Members, the Interfaith Coordinator and another man named after Solomon. The Interfaith coordinator is hoping it can be resolved peacefully, but Solomon had given up hope due to Gaddafi's paranoia and evil actions.
After I got a tour of the building that is under construction that will be the new place of worship. The shell is complete but due to funding it still has ways to go till it's finishing internally. I found out the Lacey and Olympia community has been very accepting of the Islamic Center and this made me glad after the Oarnge County crap, the protesting of the Islamic Community Center in New York City, the areas in the central United States that have come out against the building of Islamic Center's of worship in their state...(which is sad considering their Christianity is very similar in values to what they seem to be so afraid of). I am grateful Olympia and Lacey have generally not acted this way.
Then we went out to Coffee (the Board member, Interfaith Coordinator and I). I brought up the things I see as evil based on how I have seen them practiced abroad (the execution of gays in Muslim nations, not having ever seen a women lead worship or preach (I found out their are women scholars of Islam though...so who knows, maybe their will be female Imam's leading worship someday, right now the issue is a scale the least and horny of people not having a distraction so they can submit to God, and the belief in men and women together would be a distraction to both sexes), in the conversation I had with the Interfaith Coordinator in the car he mentioned Muslims have not done as much as they could to abolish the negative stereotypes, and also people needing to come without preconceived notions and wishing to learn as well (both of which I agree with based off experience).
We then talked about Satan...as in all cases that a figure such as this is brought up. I think the possibility of malevolent and benevolent spirits exist...I just don't see it as likely. I see human's doing so much more good and evil without any outside forces being attributed to actions. The reason I was given for why he exists is to test us. The pattern with Christianity over free will in regards to Satan in God seems to be, as I understand it now.
God is the ultimate good, making people who are just good is not good, therefore choice must exist in order to choose the good, so it is truly the good. Evil is chosen just as good is chosen. This still doesn't quite make sense to me if all God wants is submission or worship (and all creation in submission and worship), so I still don't buy this explanation completely. I've seen fear of Satan lead to more evil acts (persecution of gays, fear of sexuality, avoidance of responsibility) to have trouble seeing it as being Satan or some spirit being responsible. Though the same applies to the good as well...I consider myself a Thiest but when it comes to peoples actions, it depends on the people. I've seen virtious believers and non-believers of all faiths, and evil committed by believers and non-believers in the name of (Enter Idea Here). So the exploration continues.
The conversations and the act of prayer were the most rewarding part of the visit and I believe in the awareness that comes from these two acts that real change can be brought about in the world. A prayer can be anything from reflecting to good action or prayer to good action, the key is the good action. This is one thing I myself shall continue to grow and seek to better myself in, for I can always do better in living the good, as can we all.
Discussion and dialogue. The very act of either is opening the self up to possible arguments, superficial connections or in the best cases, getting below the surface and the formation of friendships. This was not the goal of the SPSCC Forum though. I wish I had been though, given that the building was completely full of all the people who had come to learn or to re-validate their beliefs. The goal of the forum was to present 4 different perspectives on 3 big questions. Which I think would have been more powerful had it included small group discussions after. For what it was worth though, it was extremely educating on learning a Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Buddhist perspective on "The Meaning of Life," "Humanity's Problem" and "How to fix humanity's problem." Each representative was given three minutes to respond to each question with a little time after for questions from the audience.
What is the meaning of life?
The first to answer was Muhammad Ayub representing Islam from the Islamic Center of Olympia. He quoted the Quran, specifically the verses, "God says I have created people to worship me," and "Blessed is he who created life and death so that we could be good." From this I took the meaning of life is to worship God and through our worship of God be good, which he articulated also as being able to face God on the Day of Judgment.
The next to respond was Paul Jones the pastor of Reality Church in Olympia. He said that the meaning of life was to worship God and that through our worship of Jesus who is God we would be made good. To quote him directly, "There is a purpose that can be known, but not within ourselves, only within Him," and "We are He was quick to show the difference between Islam and Christianity by talking about God as the Trinity, being the Union of Father, Son and Holy Spirit and God as having no beginning or end and us as characters in the story he wrote. I took this meaning the meaning of life is God and letting God shape the individual which was similar to Islam.
Next to speak was Rabbi Seth Goldstien of Beth Hatfiloh the Reform Jewish Synagogue in Olympia. He expressed the meaning by using three stories from Torah. The first story was of Genesis and how man is made in the image of God and because of it holds the divine spark of God which is articulated through mercy, creation, compassion and creativity. Because we were made in the image of God we therefore partners with God in his ongoing creation.
The next story was of Sinai and Moses's receiving of the commandments from God. From this became the purpose of our relationship to one another and our relationship to God.
The third story was the Exodus, and the story of moving out of slavery to freedom and our responsibility to repair the world as we and the world transform.
Together I took this to mean our meaning is to be partners with God in creation, live in relationship of respect for another and to work to heal the world.
The final person to speak was Kelsang Tsoglam of the Mahayana Buddhist Center of Olympia. She expressed meaning as cultivating peace in the heart so that we may create that peace in the world. She said it can't be mandated or legislated but can only come through individuals finding of inner peace and helping others find inner peace as well.
What is humanity's Problem?
The first to speak was the Rabbi this time around. With each question the professor hosting the forum would switch the order around. The Rabbi's answer to the question was that humanity's problem was being human. We are fallible and not God and that it's in recognizing our humanity that we can overcome it. He said the way of moving forward knowing that we are human is through the liturgical cycle of atonement and repentance and that is how we can overcome are evil inclinations and be good. "We are in a constant state of becoming." Humans are change. He also expressed one of the problems is fundamentalism which he saw as denying our humamanness.
After the rabbi the Nun spoke of what she believed humanity's problem was. She said it was our inability to make ourselves happy. We are so focused on outside material things to be happy that we lose state of true happiness coming from within.
Next Muhammad Ayub spoke. He expressed humanity's problem being that we have a sense of hopelessness, lack of direction, greed and racism and are unable to achieve balance. He said the answer is in the Quran and that "By remembering God you find balance in your heart." As well as the words of Prophet Muhammad who said, "You are not a true believe until you love for others, what you love for yourself." It is by remembering this that we advance in God Consciencesness.
The last to speak was the Pastor. He said, our problem is pride. We don't like God being in control of our story and that was the reason for original sin and our rebellion against God. We were once perfect because of God, but because we chose self over God we have been suffering since. God declared us "dead" because of sin.
How to solve humanity's problem?
Some of the questions were answered partially in talking about the problem, but there was still more said by all. First to speak was the Buddhist Nun who reiterated that we need to solve our own problems first. She used the analogy of the airplane and that before you put the oxygen mask on another you need to put it on yourself. When a person is at peace that peace effects others and that is how the problem is solved, by more people achieving peace in their heart.
Next Mr. Ayub spoke, he expressed the solution was through the 5 Pillars of Islam, which are:
1) Testimony to God and prophets and in doing recognizing the many attributes of God.
2) Pray 5 times a day, and in doing so achieve balance through the honoring of God.
3) Charity and the giving of 2.5% of savings to the poor. Egalitarianism and looking after the widows, orphans and those who have the least in society.
4) Fasting during Ramadan in order to gain greater will power and to remember those who have not.
5) Haj - The pilgrimage to Mecca in memory of the past and to form more connections.
"A friend is someones story we have heard. An enemy is a story we have not heard."
Next was Pastor Jones who said the solution was not through doing more good works then bad. That the solution is faith in Jesus Christ and the Trinity of God not through certain behavior modifications. He believed that God would bring about those behavioral modifications in us though through our faith but that can only happen through repentance as a coming back to God. God puts the oxygen masks on us in the plane. In the end he said God will rule over creation in relationship with Him.
Last to speak was Rabbi Goldstein. He first made a joke about using another airplane analogy but couldn't think of one. Rabbi Goldstein said that the solution could be found in the Torah and the commentaries on the Torah known as the Midvash. He used one of the commentaries as an example where there are angles arguing with Moses on why he should receive to Torah when it comes from God. In the end Moses wins because he establishes that humans need to the Torah in order to be good and establish holiness in the world. He shows that the angels don't have the same problems as people do so it is really only people who need the Torah. He closed saying the answer is to live righteous and holy life and in doing so we bring each other close to one another in the Divine.
After there were a few questions in which I learned that Islam and Judaism do not believe God inhabits the individual like with Christianity. On the question of the afterlife and beginnings and endings the afterlife was also discussed. Islam describes it depth having 1/3 of the Quran cover it, Mahayana Buddhism defines it as it as continuum where Karma keeps recreating it. How a person dies depends on what they are reincarnated into in the next life. God and life are eternal in Judaism and God is most concerned with our actions in the now and for Christianity God was the beginning and is the possibility of being eternally present or eternally absent based on our choices.
Now it would be difficult to really describe all my thoughts on everything that was said. I learned a lot about all four faiths today. I wish the Nun had brought up more points about Buddha's teachings though, just as I wish there could have been small group discussions after. One thing I respect about all of these faiths is their call for virtue. Whether it's through believing God is making them virtuous, through submitting to God, to co-creating with God or living by Right action I believe that is the essential Good that I wish more members of these faiths and all people would turn too.
The Children of Abraham Research Thesis. This project is my goal for my final time here at the Evergreen State College. Over break I read tons of books on Interfaith and how to create successful dialogue between people of different backgrounds who are in conflict with one another. This project is an exploration of faith. What a Christian, Muslim or Jew is differs depending on who you are talking too...but there are common beliefs that all share and each claim Abraham as the father of their faith.
Throughout time we have seen individuals within these groups persecute and kill one another in the name of the God who made a covenant with their forefather. History is littered with atrocities committed in the name of God by all these faiths and today it is still done.
In this project I will be interviewing members of the faiths as well as taking surveys of people who I am unable to schedule interviews with. The questions will deal with how each individual sees faith playing a role in their life, what role that faith informs virtue and what Interfaith (respect and dialogue towards members of different faiths) plays a role in their religion.
Also part of the project is up-keeping the blog. I'll be visiting all the Abrahamic faiths largely, but I will also be visiting other religions as well. So I'll continue to post my faith visits. What discussions I post in here will not be in relationship to the survey questions and will be specifically for the blog. Since the survey is a questionnaire and interview, not a discussion.
This is my final quarter at the Evergreen State College and my goal with this project is to build bridges of understanding and respect between the faiths I'm studying and the people whose stories are told. I am hoping to further Interfaith dialogue, peace and understanding with the completed project. May peace be with you and God bless you all.
