February:Comingtogether
throughfaith
CelebrateWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek(Feb.1-7)andthefactthatinterfaithworkisbecoming
moreandmorewell-knownandrespectedasamajorplayerinfosteringpeace.TheWorldInterfaith
HarmonyWeek“extendstheTwoCommandmentsbyadding‘LoveoftheGood,andLoveofthe
Neighbour’.Thisformulaincludesallpeopleofgoodwill.Itincludesthoseofotherfaiths,andthose
withnofaith.”Learnmoreathttp://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/.
INFORM:
-Seewhateventsareplannedfor2016:http://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/events-2016/.If
youfindoneinyourarea,attendwithyourChaptermembers!Or,lettheseeventsinspireyoutohost
yourown,eitherforyourChapteroryourcommunity.
-LearnabouttheParliamentoftheWorld’sReligions,whichhaditsbiggestgatheringtodatethispast
yearintheU.S.Greatsourceforarticles,videos,andresourcesshowinghowmuchworkdifferent
groupsareaccomplishingusinginterfaithcooperation.https://www.parliamentofreligions.org/
-Anorganizationwepartnerwith,theUnitedReligion’sInitiative,hasbeeninundatedwithinterest
andactivityfollowinganationally-airedspecialthispastChristmasEve(http://uri.org/cbs),further
proofthatinterfaithworkappeals!
INSPIRE:
HaveyouheardofEbooPatel’sinterfaithmovement,“InterfaithYouthCore”?https://www.ifyc.org/
Whileit’sgearedtowardcollegestudentsandtheU.S.,themodeltheyproposeworksinany
demographicandsetting,andthewebsiteisfullofresourcesandmusingsoninterfaithrelationships.
Thesearetwoofthefoundingbeliefs:
•
•
Thescienceofinterfaithcooperation:bycreatingpositive,meaningfulrelationshipsacrossdifferences,
andfosteringappreciativeknowledgeofothertraditions,attitudesimprove,knowledgeincreases,and
morerelationshipsoccur.Thesethreearemutuallyreinforcingandbackedbysocialsciencedata,what
wecallthe“interfaithtriangle”.
Theartofinterfaithleadership:peoplewhocreateandfosteropportunitiesforpositiveknowledgeand
opportunitiesforengagementmoveothersaroundtheinterfaithtriangleandleadtoacommunity
markedbypluralism.
TRANSFORM:
Suggestedactionstofurtheryourowninterfaithawarenessandinvolvement:
• visitanotherfaith’splaceofworshipinyourcommunity
o Findamosque,asynagogue,orlookinlocaldirectoriesformoreinformation.
• discoveraninterfaithgroupinyourcommunityandseeifyoucanattendmeetingsorevents,
• learnthebasictenantsoftworeligionsyou’renotfamiliarwith.
o Here’salisttogetstarted:http://www.religionfacts.com/big-religion-chart