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Following Jesus in nonviolent struggle for justice and peace, we love our neighbors and enemies as God loves us all, becoming a peace church to share in Gods work to save the world.

Gleanings from Interfaith-Speakers

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Reflections on A Sacred Season of Peace-Making by Joan Haan
Part 2 of 4

Speakers
There were eight speakers in the Interfaith Series representing five religious traditions: Christian, Judaism, Islam, Quaker and Baha’i. I heard an honest appraisal of religious violence; a grappling of how to address that violence institutionally and individually; historically and currently.

This is what I heard and reflected upon from these speakers:
Religion is our foundation and source of hope; our love of God and love of neighbor; a belief in a God that requires submission to a higher calling than our selves (Imams Hesham Hussein and Makram El-Amin). It is our way out of the human drama of parochial righteousness and violence. Our relationships to God are the manifestation of our best selves shining forth. It is our calling to live out the command to seek peace and pursue justice, together (Rabbi Adam Spilker). This is how we live beyond our fear: to love and forgive our neighbor as well as our enemy because God loves and forgives us (Sr. Sharon Howell, CSJ). This love is a divine calling and a practice of nonviolence (Dr. Philip Stoltzfus, Mennonite).

Peace is a choice: Do we place our faith in the power of violence or in the power of God’s love? (Michael Bischoff, Quaker) What appalls us, confront it. We can evolve as image bearers (Rabbi Morris Allen)! Our images are like different flowers, colors, shapes and blooms in the garden of humanity (Dr. Roya Majid, Baha’i).

Is Religion Killing Us[1] --to quote the title of Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer's book? Yes: when we use religious dogma and platitude to placate our fears, to find simple truths to explain away complex and difficult issues; to forget who we are, children of God and followers of Jesus.

What are your conclusions? How do address religious violence as a Peace Church?

Joan Haan, M.A. CPCC
ECAPC Board Member

[1] Is Religion Killing Us? Violence in the Bible and the Quran. Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. New York: The Continuum International Publishing Group. 2005.

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