http://bjconline.org/change-the-story-campaign-invites-interfaith-dialogue-020316/?utm_content=buffer70e93&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
article submitted by Matt
article submitted by Matt
http://bjconline.org/change-the-story-campaign-invites-interfaith-dialogue-020316/?utm_content=buffer70e93&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
article submitted by Matt
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Os mensageiros" ( "The Messengers.)A Story from the spirit world by Andre Luiz, through the mediumship of Francisco C. XavierPortuguese Version: "Alfredo sorriu serenamente e perguntou, bem humorado: – Vocês conhecem a lenda hindu da serpente e do santo? Ante a nossa expressão negativa, o administrador continuou: – Contam as tradições populares da Índia que existia uma serpente venenosa em certo campo. Ninguém se aventurava a passar por lá, receando-lhe o assalto. Mas um santo homem, a serviço de Deus, buscou a região, mais confiado no Senhor que em si mesmo. A serpente o atacou, desrespeitosa. Ele dominou-a, porém, com o olhar sereno, e falou: – Minha irmã, é da lei que não façamos mal a ninguém. A víbora recolheu-se, envergonhada. Continuou o sábio o seu caminho e a serpente modificou-se completamente. Procurou os lugares habitados pelo homem, como desejosa de reparar os antigos crimes. Mostrou-se integralmente pacífica, mas, desde então, começaram a abusar dela. Quando lhe identificaram a submissão absoluta, homens, mulheres e crianças davam-lhe pedradas. A infeliz recolheu-se à toca, desalentada. Vivia aflita, medrosa, desanimada. Eis, porém, que o santo voltou pelo mesmo caminho e deliberou visitá-la. Espantou-se, observando tamanha ruína. A serpente contou-lhe, então, a história amargurada. Desejava ser boa, afável e carinhosa, mas as criaturas perseguiam-na e apedrejavam-na. O sábio pensou, pensou e respondeu após ouvi-la: – Mas, minha irmã, houve engano de tua parte. Aconselhei-te a não morderes ninguém, a não praticares o assassínio e a perseguição, mas não te disse que evitasses de assustar os maus. Não ataques as criaturas de Deus, nossas irmãs no mesmo caminho da vida, mas defende a tua cooperação na obra do Senhor. Não mordas, nem firas, mas é preciso manter o perverso a distância, mostrando-lhe os teus dentes e emitindo os teus silvos. Nesse momento, Aniceto sorriu de maneira expressiva. O administrador fez longa pausa e concluiu: – Creio que a fábula dispensa comentário." English Translation: Alfredo smiled calmly and said, good-humored: - You know the Hindu legend of the snake and the saint? Ante our negative expression, the administrator continued: - Folk traditions of India tells that there was a poisonous snake in a certain field. No one ventured to go there, fearing her assault. But a holy man, in service of God, searched the area, more trusted in the Lord than in himself. The snake attacked him, disrespectfully. He mastered her, however, with the serene look, and said: - My sister, is the law that we do not hurt anyone. The viper went away, embarrassed. The sage continued his way and the snake has changed completely. The snake searched for the places inhabited by man, as an eager to repair old crimes. She showed up in full peaceful, but since then, people started to abuse her. When they identified her absolute submission, men, women and children started to throw stones at her. The unfortunate hided in a den, discouraged. She was anxious, afraid, discouraged. But behold, the saint returned by the same way and decided to visit her. He was astonished, watching such ruin. The serpent told him then her bitter story. She wanted to be good, gentle and affectionate, but people chased her and stoned her. The wise man thought and thought, and answered after listening to her: - But, my sister, there was a deception on your part. I advised you to do not bite anyone, murder or persecute, but I have not told you to stop frightening the bad guys. Do not attack God's creatures, our brothers in the same way ordinary life as we, but defend your cooperation in the work of the Lord. Do not bite, or injure, but it is necessary that you keep the evil at a distance, showing you your fangs and sending your hisses. At this point, Aniceto grinned expressively. The administrator has long pause and concluded: - I believe the fable exemption any comment. NPR link *
a secular assembly that meets regularly to sing pop songs, listen to poetry and speeches, and create a thoughtful community link to Boston assembly (I signed up to get their emails about time/place and in doing so, accidentally became a member, so if you have any questions, come to me...I guess) Sunday Assembly website ---oddly enough, I don't think they have an official Boston chapter beyond people saying "hey, let's meet" ~ASM OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR: Being ‘Partly Jewish’
Children who grow up in interfaith communities, learning and celebrating both family religions, are not lost to Judaism. 19th c danish philosopher. Perhaps the first existentialist philosopher. His work explored emotions and feelings of individuals when faced with BIG choices. Christianity was the official state religion of Denmark and Kierkegaard was extremely critical of that. He had many ideas relating to individualism, personal growth and change, and the way those ideas related to faith.
He coined the idea of a ‘leap of faith’ The leap of faith is his conception of how an individual would believe in God or how a person would act in love. Faith is not a decision based on evidence that, say, certain beliefs about God are true or a certain person is worthy of love. No such evidence could ever be enough to completely justify the kind of total commitment involved in true religious faith or romantic love. Faith involves making that commitment anyway. R. Johanan says in the name of R. Jose: How do we know that the Holy One, blessed be He, prays? Because the verse says: "I bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in the house of My prayer." (Isaiah 56:7). It is not said, ‘their prayer’, but ‘My prayer’; from here you learn that the Holy One,
blessed be He, prays. What does He pray? R. Zutra the son of Tobi said in the name of Rav: ‘May it be My will that My mercy may suppress My anger, and that My mercy may prevail over My other attributes, so that I may deal with My children in the attribute of mercy and bring inside the circle of justice’. It was taught: R. Ishmael the son of Elisha said: I once entered into the innermost part of the Temple to offer incense and saw Akathriel Jah, the Lord of Hosts, seated upon a high and exalted throne. He said to me: Ishmael, My son, bless Me. l replied: May it be Your will that Your mercy may suppress Your anger and Your mercy may prevail over Your other attributes, so that You may deal with Your children according to the attribute of mercy and bring them inside the circle of justice. And He nodded to me with His head. From this we learn that the blessing of an ordinary person must not be considered lightly in your eyes. |
AuthorThe members of BIG. Anybody can send interesting material to [email protected] and I'll publish it. Archives
February 2016
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