February 17, 2021, 3:00 p.m. via Google Meet Introduction Never having met this women’s group, I made a few statements of personal introduction about my sincere interest in Hinduism. Time did not permit presenting all of this basic content. Any person who would present this broad content would offer diverse explanations for specific items. I […]
This handout was prepared for my booth about World Religions for Goshen’s Diversity Day that focused Rhythm as the theme. Rhythms exist not only in Sound— like rain falling on a tin roof, large rocks being pounded into smaller stones, three typists creating manuscripts. They also mark Diversity (subdivisions of types) in Repetition, in Color, […]
Written for my second DMin degree begun at Dayton, OH: “Spirituality, Sustainability & Interreligious Dialogue,” May 2005 with Professors Paul Knitter and Jay McDaniel. Having purchased the definitive edition of Tao Te Ching, I decided to supplement that resource with chapters on Taoism that appear in several books that I already own. Not all books […]
When Project Director for ecumenical endeavor in Goshen, IN during 2001, I prepared and distributed this bulletin insert for use among area churches. I had received a Worship Renewal Grant from Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, MI with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. With thanks for an interview with Rabbi Friedland of […]
Forthcoming in Mennonite World Conference Courier Because the next Mennonite World Conference (when possible after the pandemic hindrance) is scheduled to meet in Indonesia where Christianity is a minority religion alongside majority Islam, planners wish to have some articles that appear in the publication titled Courier to address Interfaith Dialogue. This piece I submitted in […]
The Swayambhunath Buddhist Temple I Kathmandu, Nepal Muslim architecture – in Hyderabad, India Ancient Stonehenge in England Oldest synagogue in India in Cochin, Kerala state Creation of goddess Sarasvati, in Bihar state Stained glass window in Union Church, CSI, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, IndiaC Cluster of Hindu temples, south India Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand Collection […]
Priests playing the harmonium and drums as part of Sikh worship in the Mishawaka gurdwara. Noted HMI library that houses many Muslim and other interfaith resources. Current church located at the Garden of Gethsemane on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Centuries ago multiple religious forms were created out of stone at Mahabalipurum Multi Buddhist forms at […]
This article was first published in Mission Focus Annual Review, vol. 8, 2000, 107-18. It appears here with permission. Christians who pursue missional endeavor do well to ponder questions like the following. Do we promote genuine respect and understanding between people of living faiths, or do we subtly or unconsciously prompt or allow ill will to […]
This paper was first given at the Mennonite Graduate Student Conference, June 10-12, 2006 at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN when papers on varied topics all dealt with Exclusion. “Outside the church, no salvation” – Cyprian, 3rd century bishop “Whoever knows [only] one religion knows no religion.” – Max Muller “Christ is the Way […]
One outcome of a developed love for India spanning over multiple decades was my writing imaginary dialogues between people of living faiths, for a Doctor of Ministry degree completed in 1997. Themes, settings, and speakers vary, but the strong goal of increased respect and understanding emerges. Particularly intrigued by Hindu complexity, I excerpt and adapt […]