by admin on December 20, 2011
Kim Sheasley
I loved being able to join the Interfaith Committee and learn specifically about Christianity this fall semester. Religion has always fascinated me and having the opportunity to dive into interfaith dialogues with strangers in my community and visiting churches showed me the importance of learning about other faiths. Interfaith work is important, because it breaks down the barriers faiths have between each other. Being able to talk about the scriptures with different perspectives in an organized environment is essential, because it informs without argument and it helps to eliminate prejudice. I gained a larger appreciation for all faiths and became more confident in the understanding of my own faith. I loved talking to real Mormons, Catholics, Presbyterians, Jews, and Muslims and particularly about what they believe, as well as getting to visit synagogues and churches. This committee provided me with the opportunity to visit with people and learn about the way other religions work. I learned so much from this experience and I hope to continue to more interfaith work next semester!
Jewelle Matheny
have always been interested in different religions but especially Islam because it is a global religion but has so many misconceptions since 9/11. I am so happy I have had the chance to learn more about Islam through being an Interfaith Committee member. All three monotheistic religions have so many things in common. I believe that if the world focused on commonalities verses differences, peace would occur. I have learned that culture and religion are very intertwined. This has helped me understand that the conflict over the holy land or American’s views towards Muslims combines elements of religion and culture. Working on this Interfaith committee has helped expand my knowledge. The summit was a key part of this experience. I loved listening to the speakers and see how much love they had towards each other even though. Interfaith helps build relationships of trust and respect, which are extremely necessary today
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by admin on December 11, 2011
By Kim Sheasley
The original Greek text helps to decipher what Jesus meant when he used the phrase “kingdom of heaven.” In Strong’s Concordance, “the kingdom” (number 932) in the KJV Bible, is described in the Thayer’s Lexicon as “royal power, kingship, dominion, and rule.” In all fourteen verses, “the kingdom” has the same meaning, and never changes in significance. Strong’s also defines “of heaven” (number 3772) as the “vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it” and heaven as “where God dwells.” The combined part of these two definitions, “the kingdom of heaven,” is the “royal power where God dwells and all things are visible.” The kingdom of heaven that Jesus taught through his parables is a place with kingship and a spiritual expanse.
Matthew 13:31-35 and 44-52 explain what is required to attain the kingdom of heaven by illustrating: the growth of a mustard seed, expanding yeast, finding hidden treasure, selling all for a pearl, and through separating the good fish from bad fish. These five parables have been interpreted in numerous ways because the parables do not present a literal roadmap to achieving the kingdom of heaven. Catholics and Protestants have unique conceptions and interpretations of the kingdom of heaven, but each understands the value of the kingdom that Jesus describes in his parables.
Catholics believe in a kingdom of love, peace, and justice (Catholic Church 2046, 2819). This Christian faith sees Jesus as the key for man being able enter into the kingdom of heaven, whereas before man could not. Pope Paul VI said, “Christ inaugurated the Kingdom of heaven on earth and revealed to us the mystery of that kingdom” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church). Another Catholic official, Pope Benedict XVI, said that Jesus himself is the kingdom, that the kingdom resides in all men, and that the kingdom of heaven is the same as the church (Pope Benedict XVI). Jesus’ parables taught helpful ideas to both the individual and the church. In a Catholic bible translation, The New American Bible, it says that Jesus’ parables about the Kingdom were “proposed” by Jesus, giving his word less authority than non-catholic bibles, which presents a clear example of Jesus’ influence on the church’s view of the kingdom. His proposal could be accepted or rejected by followers and the church. From the pope’s message, we learn that Catholics value Jesus’ role as bringing the kingdom of heaven to the world. The message of the kingdom of heaven parables taught by Jesus is also preached in other Christian denominations.
The Evangelical Church, a Protestant faith, believes in the kingdom of heaven and understands it through Jesus’ parables. In an evangelical sermon by Ross Cochrane, the mustard seed teaches that Jesus was the manifestation of the kingdom of heaven on earth. Cochrane talks about Jesus’ nativity and says, “in the most humble of places [Mary] gave birth to heavens kingdom on earth. This mustard seed “was no ordinary seed. It was a seed of destiny, a seed of promise, a seed of kingdom significance, the seed of the Kingdom of Heaven.” This protestant sect and the Catholics believe that Jesus established the kingdom of heaven. Christians accept the concept of the kingdom of heaven, and even though the definition changes within sects, his parables are relevant to both the Catholic and Protestant Churches.
Different scholars, churches, and scriptures, view the kingdom of heaven, as a concept that is either here now presently, is coming in the future, or that is both here and now. Whether the kingdom of heaven is here or will be here, Jesus was important to all Christians in understanding the kingdom. He taught several parables about the kingdom of heaven, and so it makes sense for his followers (Christians) to believe that Jesus held the key to open the passageway to the kingdom of heaven. Many read contemporary translations like The Contemporary English Version (CEV) of the Bible, which relates to current-day readers. The CEV is phrased in such a way that each parable is focuses on the people not the story. This contemporary translation emphasizes that what the people do is like the kingdom of heaven. The parables are used by Jesus to inspire people to take action even if “Jesus could only tell them what it was ‘like’, using the most homely illustrations… like the hidden treasure, like corn that grows to ripeness ‘man knows not how, like a feast, like catching fish, like leaven working in dough, like an employer paying wages at the end of the day. The illustrations are designed to provoke thought rather than to close the question” (Dodd). In this sense of the parables, Jesus inspired and uplifted humanity by teaching and “provoking” his students. Today Christians have interpreted Jesus’ parables and the concept of the kingdom of heaven through different lenses while recognizing the importance of the kingdom.
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by admin on December 5, 2011
As December kicks off, the Euphrates Founder is in D.C. hosting a mini-Euphrates Summit, featuring Dr. Douglas Johnston, founder of the International Center of Religion and Diplomacy, and four Warriors for Peace. This week, Euphrates is presenting at Tufts University and Bates College. Join us if you’re in the area! See more details on the events page. Meanwhile, we’ve got staff taking leadership courses, new people joining the team, and a whole lot of gratitude to go around.
Click here to see a ‘hot-off-the-press’ video with Summit highlights from Principia’s “Prinwire,” and read on for some of our participant’s impressions from the Euphrates Summit…
When asked, “What key insights or learnings will you be taking away from this Summit?” our participants had this to say:
“It gave me great hope for the future and even more appreciation for all the peace work that’s already going on. It also impels me to open my own thought to doing more personally.”
“Inspirational – thought the theme was essential and something that is almost never addressed.”
“The 20% tipping point goal. Gives me something to work toward person to person. Grace, humility, Golden Rule, being a better listener!”
“That there are many like-minded efforts working for peace, and that each of us want to do more! This was totally inspirational, and I hope there are more activities through Euphrates – loved it!”
“A glimpse of the new paradigm evolving for international, especially Middle East, relations.”
“Listen, and then we have a responsibility to act. Empathy is the life blood of the Golden Rule. Living the Golden Rule is so practical!”
“My goals will certainly be transformed by the kind of thinking required to solve problems.”
“The many creative ways to work towards peace! Plus, my hope and fire have been re-ignited about the future of our global family!”
And from some of our speakers …
Busting stereotypes and myths and letting a little truth to wedge its way in, bringing people of all faiths and creeds together is what you set out to do and it seems that everybody who attended had a similar wish. The summit you put together allowed so much of that dialog to flourish, and I’m still having a blast sharing the perspectives that came from that flawlessly executed symposium. – T.H. Culhane, Solar CITIES
“The Euphrates Summit showed us that the toughest aspect of reaching for a peaceful future might be overcoming the idea that talking about peace is itself a controversial issue. Strength of character and deep knowledge can overcome this barrier.” –Tom Quiggin, Expert on Terrorism
To “end the clash of civilizations in our lifetime,” is Euphrates vision. They uniquely recognize to accomplish this monumental goal requires thinking far outside the unproductive traditional boxes and drawing upon the creativity and ingenuity of the world’s best minds. Euphrates is well positioned structurally, intellectually, organizationally and spiritually to help promulgate this task. – Amb. Mark Siljander, Former Member of the U.S. Congress
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