Palin Calls Planned Islamic Center Near Ground Zero a 'Provocation'

For those who aren't yet aware, a new Islamic community center is being built and facilitated near Ground Zero where the Twin Towers used to be. The Cordoba Project, framed and named through inspiration from the YMCA and JCC (Jewish Community Center) formats in these respective traditions and called Cordoba after the Spanish city in the middle ages that fostered fruitful relations between all the Abrahamic faiths, is to be a community center designed to serve the local community and reach out to neighboring religions and cultures in the spirit of dialogue and collaboration toward equality, justice, and peace. It's really about improving Muslim-West relations.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is the chair of the Cordoba initiative and founded the American Society for Muslim Advancement, which was the first U.S. program focusing on bring together Muslims and non-Muslim through the avenues of academia, policy, current affairs, and culture.

However, though the Cordoba Project is actually a force for good, truth, and justice dedicated to fostering greater understanding across communities, cultures, and religions, Sarah Palin has denounced these efforts as "provocation" and against the "interests of healing" (The Hill, 7/18/10).

I believe Palin has grossly misunderstood the intentions and possibilities of the Cordoba initiative. Rather than spreading rumors and distorted tropes, perhaps she could gain a bit more insight through seeking to better understand and learn from the principles and actions of this very important and peace-making project.

For more, read the whole article by Ben Geman at The Hill.

Serene Jones' Open Letter to Glenn Beck

Feminist theologian and president of Union Theological Seminary, Serene Jones, has written an open letter to Glenn Beck as a response to Beck's advocacy to his audience to steer clear of churches and synagogues that use the term "social justice" in their communications.

The main gist of the letter is an announcement that Bibles are being sent to Beck with the many references to social justice highlighted in the text and an explanation as to why these Bibles are being sent - to inform him and his audience that human rights and social action are part and parcel of the biblical tradition.

Read Jones' open letter at the Huffington Post.

'UN' of Faith Groups Set Roles in Disaster Relief

For every disaster - be it natural or otherwise - there always comes help from religious groups, setting aside their denominational, doctrinal, and worldview differences to come together and offer physical, emotional, and financial support: food, water, money, and crews of volunteers to come and help out in practical ways.

Tom Breen of the Associated Press writes an article about this often largely unknown hodgepodge of religious communities and their dedication of social action. Read the story here.

Social Justice is a Virtue

Here's a very good article by Cathleen Falsani of Sojourners magazine about the practice of social justice as a rather forgotten but re-surging Christian religious value.

It's an excellent appraisal of how actively working for equality and justice in our societies and communities is part and parcel of ethical uprightness and spiritual growth, grounded in the example and identity of Jesus the Christ.

Check it out!

Spiritual Social Action on Unity.org

A recent short essay entitled "Spiritual Social Action Leads to Unity in the Community" by Jane Simmons has been posted on Unity.org which originally appeared in the Jan. 2009 issue of Contact magazine.

In this brief article Simmons articulates what I've been hoping to see come about in Unity as an over-all movement. I know social action has always been a part of Unity circles and groups, but it has rarely been emphasized as an integral part of Unity metaphysical thought or made a distinct and explicit ministry in the Association of Unity Churches. That is, until recently when the "spiritual social action" group in Unity began formulating a language and spiritual rationale that places importance on social engagement and justice advocacy and this activity's significance for spiritual growth.

Simmons sums up well the communal dimension I've always felt is an integral element of one's spiritual journey. Sometimes Unity people and Unity metaphysical thought are so individualistic that this societal-intersubjective facet is downplayed or not even spoken of or engaged in at all.

No human is an island unto his/her self. Based on the belief and conviction of the interconnectivity of all life grounded in a God often referred to as Oneness or Source or Absolute, it seems that social justice, human rights, and general community action to better others' well being as well as our own would be a foundational ethical principle in Unity. If God in Christ is present equally and fully in each of us and our thought, word, and deed actions substantially affect ourselves and all else around us (based on the principle of Oneness), then our service for others not only physcially and spiritually helps others, it also uplifts ourselves.

The notion of spiritual social action should be integrated into Unity metaphysics. In fact, I'd like to develop a Unity systematic theology wherein the principle of spiritual social action becomes a central theological piece. Social engagement, as an ethic, can be formulated as the organic outgrowth of a mature and effective inner contemplative life -- and the inner contemplative life can be furthered, deepened and expanded through the participation in the service of social action toward the betterment of lives, relationships, and society as a whole.

I like the five points of spiritual social action based on Unity principles that are forwarded by Simmons:

- Empowerment of individuals rather than inviting dependency (which I take to mean a complete dependency on others that dissolves one's sense of worth, uniqueness, and distinction as and individual spiritual being; this is not a negation of the principle of inter-dependence, which refers to the reality of every individual being affected by and in intimate relationship with other individuals)
- Creation of sustainable living, allowing the receiver to give back (that is, when the receiver becomes too reliant on the giver a lack of integrity and equality arises; true social action gives with the intention and implementation of empowering the receiver with resources to become the giver of social service as well)
- Honoring the wholeness of Spirit within all beings, regardless of the outer appearance (no matter what the outer conditions may be, "spiritual" social action recognizes the inner dimension of spiritual integrity and God-presence within all individuals)
- Coming from a consciousness of love and compassion (the intention and attitude with which spiritual social action is done is characterized by love and compassion for humanity, usually grounded in an inner practice of some kind, i.e. prayer, meditation, contemplation)
- Moves us from the role of "benevolent giver, handing down to a needy receiver" to instead, the conscious realization of the privilege to be of service to the divine (in other words, the hierarchy and inequality of relationship inherent in other forms of social service is abrogated in favor of a more humble role of giving to a spiritual equal -- giving from God, through God, to God since God is fully present in every piece of the process).

Read the essay at Unity.org.

Remember World Day of Prayer

Remember that the World Day of Prayer sponsored by Unity and Association of Unity Churches will be held September 10, 2009. People all over the world will be spending time in prayer, contemplation, and social engagement in their local communities.

This year's event will include:

1) Spiritual social action opportunities to help create a more peaceful and harmonious existence.
2) Opportunities to share prayer thoughts and requests online.
3) An online board for people to share ideas, prayers, experiences, and stories of social action with each other to inspire one another to make a difference.

Visit the World Day of Prayer website for more info and opportunities to engage in prayer and social engagement.

The Unbelieving Future of Christian Faith

Peter Laarman writes an intriguing article for Religion Dispatches concerned with the future sustainability of Christian faith as being one that doesn't cling to doctrine but is open to reinterpreting past teachings and bringing into our worldview new insights to edify and make relevant Christian spirituality in the present context.

Laarman's argument is that he predicts the Christianity of the future will be mostly comprised of those who haven't tenaciously latched onto dogma and creedal belief, instead opting for a faith guided by an ethic socially committed to liberating the oppressed, downtrodden, and poor in our communities and one maintaining an attitude of openness to truth and revelation wherever one may find it. And the people say . . . Amen!

Read the article at Religion Dispatches.

New Book Out About Discipleship and Eco-justice

The environmental movement is now firmly rooted among Christians, with individuals, churches, communities, and non-profit groups embracing eco-justice as a central and significant part of discipleship. 50 Ways to Help Save the Earth: How You and Your Church Can Make a Difference (Westminster John Knox Press) is a new book out by environmental activist Rebecca Barnes-Davies that clarifies this important connection between stewardship of the earth and living out one's faith in God in Christ.

Barnes-Davies says, "Our task is to learn to reshape our lives to honor rather than destroy God's creation ... If we are to save the earth, we must save it from ourselves." This book restates and reinforces the values of conservation by reducing, reusing, recycling, gardening, and (most difficult, in my opinion) knowing when to say "enough" and be content with what one has. It's important to take action engaging in advocacy and eco-justice activity, yet it's also about "not doing" in the sense of discerning when to let go of control, doing no harm, resting, celebrating, and trusting that God is also working to care for creation via other means.

Check out a review of the book at RNS.

Eboo Patel and An Interfaith Movement Against Malaria

Recently, Eboo Patel, director of the Interfaith Youth Core, wrote an article stating the need for a concerted interfaith movement to fight the devastation malaria is causing, particularly in Africa.

Here is a snippet of the piece in Sojourners publication:

"If you bring up theology or politics to a group of Muslims, Christians, and Jews, they probably won't agree on everything--some won't agree on anything. But one thing that these diverse religious groups will agree on is that if we can do something to save a life, we should. If we can join forces to save even more lives, all the better.

Today, we need to do just that to address a disease that poses a threat to life in more than 100 countries around the world: malaria. Malaria kills a child in Africa every 30 seconds. Pregnant women and children under 5 are at special risk. More than 1 million people every year are killed by malaria; 90 percent of these deaths occur in Africa. In the U.S., we eradicated malaria more than 50 years ago, but today, more than 40 percent of the world's population is at risk.

These deaths are entirely preventable--and as people of faith, joining with secular partners, it is our call to ensure that they end. Because malaria is not just spread by mosquitoes, but by apathy. In our globalized world, during this economic crisis, amid global warming and worldwide poverty, there are quite a few issues that have no simple solution. Malaria is not one of them. It takes a simple bed net to help protect a child in Africa."

Let's do what we can locally to help those threatened by malaria abroad.

Read the entire article at Faith in Public Life.

National ‘Faith in Action Sunday' Set for Oct. 11

The third annual "Faith In Action Sunday," which challenges churches to literally close their doors on a Sunday morning and go out and serve their communities, will occur this year on Oct. 11.

"Faith in Action Sunday" was developed by a World Vision, Zondervan, and Outreach, Inc. in 2007 to encourage churches, ministries and small groups to serve and meet practical needs in their local communities.

Though this organization tends to be theologically and politically conservative and traditional in their approach, programs such as "Faith in Action Sunday" are evidence that many conservative Christian groups recognize Jesus' message of cultivating wider communal well-being and are dedicated to promoting social action. This is certainly a point at which both these conservative groups and more progressive religious groups can meet, dialogue, and work together to create a more peaceful and contented world.

I encourage all Unity congregations to participate in this year's "Faith in Action Sunday" and go out into our communities to work for love, peace, and justice.

Unity of Pomona and Spiritual Social Action

Rev. Jan Chase tells the story of Unity of Pomona, CA and their connection to and involvement with the Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS).

Since connecting with the local DCFS, Unity of Pomona members and leaders were able to find opportunities to give their time and energy towards helping teens, families, and communities with basic needs.

This is a wonderful example of the Unity movement engaging in practical issues of social justice and reform, upholding the spiritual principle of Love in Action and following the model of Jesus Christ, our way-shower and illuminator.

Read Rev. Chase's article on Unity.org.

Putting the “Protest” Back in Protestant: Reclaiming the Spirit of Resistance

Peter Laarman of Religion Dispatches writes a provocative piece about how the Protestant tradition was originally a movement that actually "protested" beliefs and practices understood to be detrimental to the the common good, spiritual growth, and the life of faith. Laarman points out the central impulse of the Protestant Reformers was one of questioning the status quo, affirming universal individual rights (whether it be socio-political or soteriological), and arguing for action -- concrete steps made by the devoted toward the desired change.

Laarman's article is geared toward the historical side of the issue, tracing the formation and development of some prominent Reformers and advocating that Protestants today should learn from their forefathers and bring back that spirit of resistance to institutional, social, and individual evils.

The point Laarman raises is a good one. But I think it holds true for the entirety of the Christian tradition. That is, though Protestants have in their history and name the principle of protesting both for truth and justice and against the contrary as they see it, this is a heritage that spans the whole of Christianity. This value of protesting for and against extends back to the life and teaching of Jesus himself who stood firmly in the prophetic tradition, where a prophet (pro- for; phetes- to speak) wasn't so much a fore-teller of the future but a forth-teller of divine love, power, and justice in the present. The prophetic spirit is fundamental to Jesus' social-spiritual message of sacrificial love and equality, and is inherent throughout the plurality of Christian denominations.

There are many different positions within Unity circles as to whether or not Unity should even be explicitly called "Christian" since it incorporates so much of other traditions into its fold. This is a debate I'll enter into in more detail at a later time. Suffice it to say that, for the present purposes, Unity has historically, culturally, linguistically, and spiritually grown out of the Christian tradition and is thus a part of Christianity (Fillmore's leaned toward a Christian identity of Unity, our central authoritative texts are Christian, the theological language we employ is God and Christ-centered, etc.). Thus, Unity could take some cues from Laarman and/ perhaps use some of his arguments and research to corroborate social action that is already taking place within Unity congregations and even help to sculpt a more prophetic voice for Unity that's relevant to our present modern/post-modern context of globalization, plurality, and apparent ambiguity.

Read Laarman's article at Religion Dispatches.

(Above photo from Religion Dispatches website.)

Interfaith Alliance's New Online Newsletter

Interfaith Alliance, the U.S.-based interreligious NGO that advocates for religious freedom and equal rights, has ceased their print bulletin (The Light) and is now doing an online-only newsletter. Go to the Interfaith Alliance website for more info.

Abolishing Homelessness in 10 Years: An Interview With Philip Mangano

David Neff, editor at the evangelical Christianity Today, has interviewed Philip Mangano, the executive director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness. Neff spoke with Mangano about a new economic approach to getting rid of homelessness in ten years and how well it might work during our current recession.

Read the interview at Christianity Today.

`Good Samaritan’ Series Hopes to Kick-start Christian Action

A new DVD and curriculum series uses interviews to inspire social action. "Start Becoming a Good Samaritan" will be a six-part video curriculum, workbook and website designed to help everyday Christians find ways to combat poverty, pandemic diseases, and other social ills.

Though it will be published by the rather conservative Zondervan, it promises to be a practical means of addressing social crises by appealing to spiritual principles. I'm really glad to see Zondervan is investing in issues of social action concerning humanitarian problems.

Charles Honey of the RNS has written a summary of the upcoming series.

Faith and Mental Illness: A National Summit

This September 29 - October 1 there will be a conference about faith and mental illness. "Companions on the Road to Recovery from Mental Illness - Pathways for the 21st Century" is a national summit organized to help congregations and clergy prepare for effective ministry with individuals and families facing serious mental health issues in their lives.

Religious groups are invited to organize and send a team of laity and clergy to help equip congregations as centers of education, encouragement, service, advocacy, and general well-being. The Conference's general sessions will have an overview of community mental health care resources from across the country, give a basic framework and practices for mental health ministry, and offer a vision of continuing training and collaboration. Workshops and breakout sessions will be focused on exemplar ministries, specific resources for assistance, and special issues such as the needs of elders, returning veterans, rural mental health, addictions, and mental illness among those who are homeless or in prison.

This is an absolutely magnificent and greatly needed activity for educating religious leaders of mental health issues and preparing religious communities to become important centers that address mental health issues from a spiritual perspective. As more pastors, priests, ministers, and chaplains from all faith traditions become increasingly informed about mental illnesses and the effects of mental illness on individuals, families, and communities, the more healthy and happy those with mental health problems and their loved ones will be. It will also bring about a better understanding of the issues throughout the U.S. as to how our society can be most compassionate and helpful for those affected by mental illness.

Anyone who is interested in participating, visit http://www.pathways2promise.org/. This conference is co-sponsored by and will be held at The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows (located in Belleville, IL, just 15 minutes from downtown St. Louis, MO).

Read more about the conference at the RNS.


(Above photo from Pathways2Promise webpage.)

Grassroots Faith: Lessons From the Social Gospel -- Chris Evans Article

Columnist Christopher Evans has recently written an article, entitled "Grassroots Faith: Lessons From the Social Gospel," on how the Social Gospel movement of the early 20th century in the U.S. could be seen as providing an instructive example for how progressive Christianity (or religious people, in general) today might address some of the social-spiritual concerns through grounding our message in the ethical-relational practices of Jesus Christ.

Here's a sample:

Current debates among religious progressives concerning the future of their cause need to take a serious look at the successes and failures of the original social gospel. On one hand, the social gospel helped foster a larger movement of public theology, critical to those today who consider themselves a part of any form of religious progressivism. Yet the original social gospel, like today’s progressives, also faced the challenge of defining its mission to the larger culture, specifically, how best to engage important political and economic interests of the time. ("Grassroots Faith")

Perhaps we might be able to learn from past progressive-practical movements on how to create a more open-minded and socially engaged movement toward transformation and prosperity. As we in Unity are rather progressive and practical in our approach to spiritual social action, finding past exemplars of such movements could possibly help support and guide our own individual and communal participation in forward-thinking and moving change.

Check out Evans' full article on Religion Dispatches.

Interfaith Alliance's LEADD Program

Interfaith Alliance sponsors a program called Leadership Education Advancing Democracy and Diversity (LEADD). This is an educational program for high school students developed by members of the Interfaith Alliance and a group of volunteers since 2005, and the purpose is to teach the next generation about religious freedom, democracy, and social engagement in such issues.

Students who attend either the weeklong or weekend versions of LEADD become immersed in the history of the First Amendment, which is the foundation of America's unique devotion to religious liberty. Students learn of the hope in and vision for creating a truly pluralistic American society, and current policy, legislative and legal issues regarding religious freedom.

The 2009 weekend LEADD program is coming up May 29-31 in Oklahoma City, OK on the campus of Oklahoma City University.

This kind of activity is absolutely crucial if we wish to continue advocating for and affirming religious diversity and tolerance in this country. We must pass the torch on to the next generation, and this is done largely through active education. I see LEADD as a fundamental part of the spiritual social action needed to maintain and further the values of religious pluralism and peaceful interfaith relations.

Watch a promotional video produced by LEADD.

*(Above photo from the LEADD website.)

Interfaith Vigil for Postville, IA

Yesterday, May 11, there was an interfaith vigil commemorating the Postville, IA immigration raids at a local kosher meatpacking plant a year ago on May 12, 2008. Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Jewish leaders and congregant came together to remember this event that so affected their community -- an excellent piece of evidence of different faiths coming together to actively engage in community affairs toward social change.

Amie Steffen of the Waterloo Courier has the story at Faith in Public Life.

Poll Says Variety of Christians Want Action on Climate Change

According to the new national survey conducted by Public Religion Research and sponsored by Faith in Public Life and Oxfam America, a majority of Americans, including majorities of Catholics and Evangelicals, believe addressing climate change now will create new jobs and help avoid more serious economic problems in the future; almost 7 out of 10 (69%) Americans and similar numbers of Catholics and Evangelicals agree that climate change is making it harder for the world's poorest people to support their families; and approximately three-quarters of the general public and comparable numbers of Catholics and Evangelicals favor helping the world's poorest people adapt to food and water shortages caused by rising global temperatures.

This tells me that a surprising variety of Christians, including evangelicals who aren't typically concerned with or involved in environmental problems, are becoming increasingly convinced that there is a real environmental crisis at hand and that practical action must be taken to begin to alleviate the problems. I'm also pleased to see that a notably high percentage of more conservative-minded Christians are acknowledging global warming and its effects on the poor around the world.

From a Unity perspective, the environmental crisis is very real, must be dealt with, and many practical steps are being made in national and local Unity organizations to help contribute to raising consciousness about the issues and promoting means of taking action in everyday life to foster a sustainable future. See Unity's EarthCare Team for more info.

Faith in Public Life has a press release.