ReportWire

Tag: interfaith

  • Muslim American Women’s Org Condemns Violence & Extremism in Wake of Texas Synagogue Shooting

    Muslim American Women’s Org Condemns Violence & Extremism in Wake of Texas Synagogue Shooting

    [ad_1]

    The American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) says the Beth Israel Synagogue Attack Is a Wake-Up Call for Addressing Antisemitism and Extremism.

    Press Release
    –

    Jan 20, 2022


    WASHINGTON, January 20, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    AMMWEC President & Co-Founder Anila Ali issued the following statement on the Colleyville synagogue attack:

    “We are relieved that the crisis at the synagogue ended with all hostages safe, and we are devastated that once again a Jewish house of worship has been attacked. Jews everywhere deserve to live in safety – and Muslim community leaders must step up to help ensure these attacks stop.

    “We appreciate Jewish community leaders who have urged that the synagogue attack should not spark a counter-reaction of Islamophobia. The answer to hate is never hate.

    “At the same time, silence is complicity – and we cannot stay silent about a climate of antisemitism tolerated by some Muslim leaders. Just as the Tree of Life Synagogue attack forced American society to confront far-right antisemitism, the Congregation Beth Israel attack requires an honest reckoning with demonization promoted by Islamist extremists.”

    “We sadly do not need to look far for examples. Just weeks ago, Zahra Billoo, a leader of CAIR, used a speech at a Muslim community event to attack mainstream American Jews, saying:”

    “We need to pay attention to the Zionist synagogues. We need to pay attention to the Hillel chapters on our campuses just because they’re your friend today doesn’t mean that they have your back when it comes to human rights. So, oppose the vehement fascists, but oppose the polite Zionists too. They are not your friends… I’m not going to sugarcoat that they are your enemies. There are organizations and infrastructures out there that are working to harm you. Make no mistake of it: they would sell you down the line if they could. And they very often do behind your back. I mean the Zionist organizations. I mean the foreign policy organizations who say they’re not Zionists but want a two-state solution.”

    Ali added:

    “Labeling mainstream Jews as ‘enemies’ exacerbates inter-communal strife and creates the conditions for violence. Muslim leaders must insist upon zero tolerance for antisemitism otherwise, we betray our moral and religious duties. The Jewish people are wonderful allies of Muslims. Shalom and Salaam!”

    The American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) is a non-profit women’s rights organization empowering Muslim women to confront bigotry in all its forms, celebrate our faith’s beautiful heritage, and build strong bonds with fellow Americans of all backgrounds. As maternal pillars of the community, AMMWEC’s leaders uphold Islam’s core values of tolerance and personal responsibility.

    PRESS INQUIRIES:

    ANILA ALI

    ANILA@AMMWEC.ORG

    CELL: (202) 600-5186

    Source: American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC)

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Church of Scientology: In Support of Interfaith Understanding

    Church of Scientology: In Support of Interfaith Understanding

    [ad_1]

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Jan 3, 2019


    LONDON, January 3, 2019 (Newswire.com)
    –
    With more than 300 languages spoken in London, the city has tremendous ethnic, religious and cultural diversity. And it was this diversity that was the keynote of an interfaith gathering organized by All Faiths Network and the Church of Scientology London.

    The celebration was held at Fitzroy House, a listed historic building built in 1791. In the mid-1950s, Fitzroy House was the office of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard and headquarters of the religion.

    The interfaith celebration featured food, music and dance of many different cultures, including a Sufi vocal group, a Hindu dancer, a Christian psalmist, a Bengali Muslim singer and a program of song, poetry and chant performed by a Sikh children’s group. A young Christian girl of 4 was so inspired, she wanted to sing about her own faith and she too was given the floor. Ten religious leaders spoke about the importance of religious diversity and treating all religions with respect.

    Navleen Kaur of the Holland Park Gurdwara said, “In the Sikh faith, ‘Chardikalas’ is when your spirit is forever rising. Truly living and working with people of other faiths goes beyond any differences. We train ourselves to rise above duality, inequality and hatred. We recognize the human race as one, there is no difference as we stand together in prayer as one human family.”

    In a symbolic show of unity at the end of the evening, each religious leader lit a candle to symbolize all faiths living side-by-side without conflict in a spirit of creation and cooperation.

    The Creed of the Church of Scientology states “that all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance.” Working with other faiths to increase understanding, Scientology Churches throughout the world are committed to freedom of religion or belief for all.

    Source: ScientologyNews.org

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Over 600 Muslim and Jewish Women Gather to Rise Up Against Hate

    Over 600 Muslim and Jewish Women Gather to Rise Up Against Hate

    [ad_1]

    More than 600 Muslim and Jewish women gathered to learn from the nation’s leading scholars and activists on ways to combat bigotry and hate

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Nov 10, 2017


    MADISON, N.J., November 10, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom held its 4th Annual Conference this past weekend at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. The theme of this conference was “Rising up Against Hate.” More than 600 Muslim and Jewish women gathered to learn from the nation’s leading scholars and activists on ways to combat bigotry and hate.

    Notable religious scholars like former president of the Islamic Society of North America Dr. Ingrid Matson was one of four keynotes for the event. Matson spoke about her heroes Hajar and Saffiyah and said: “Love doesn’t mean the absence of conflict, it means that despite that conflict, we will work together.” Author of the New York Times best-selling novel The Red Tent and Jewish Keynote Anita Diamant said: “Friendship is as essential as bread and as crucial as chocolate.”

    We have over a thousand women still on a waiting list and are expanding by the minute. We are not just a group anymore, we are a movement!

    Sheryl Olitzky, Executive Director

    A surprise appearance by Senator Corey Booker had the audience up on their feet, empowered by the courage to wage peace.

    “America is not a nation of tolerance but a nation of love,” said Booker.

    With several dozen breakout sessions, there was something for everyone. Workshop themes ranged from the action-packed self-defense moves by founding President of the Women’s Initiative for Self-Empowerment (WISE) Rana Abdelhamid to the introspective text studies of Director of Multifaith Studies and Initiatives Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer and Scholar of Islamic Studies Homayra Ziad of the Institute of Islamic, Christian and Jewish studies.

    Facilitator Sarah Aptilon of Kansas City conducted a workshop titled “Encountering ‘Us vs. Them’: How to Talk to a Bigot” on how to address those within or outside of our own communities whom we consider to be closed-minded in some way — the server who makes an offhand racist joke, the argumentative friend, the stranger whose comments you overhear at the gym, the relative who makes offensive remarks at the holidays.

    Aptilon says, “I was inspired by the experiences that participants shared. They described what had and hadn’t worked for them. Our discussion confirmed that arguing and presenting facts isn’t usually effective, while listening deeply, asking questions and sharing personal stories can work in subtle but powerful ways.”

    Professor and co-founder of the Sisterhood Atiya Aftab, Esq., conducted a workshop on “What You Wanted to Know About Judaism and Islam and Were Afraid to Ask” with Rabbi Shira Stern.  

    Women from over 26 different states and the District of Columbia attended this year’s event with many of them taking to social media to memorialize the event with photos and videos. Manika Patel of Austin, Texas, wrote, “What an amazing weekend I had at the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom 4th annual conference in Morristown, NJ this weekend. Making new lifelong friends from all across the US, listening to some amazing and inspiring speakers, I can’t wait to see what wonderful things you ladies are going to do in the Sisterhood for 2018.” 

    Board President Donna Cephas spoke about the power of each of our Sisters to reach many others, to create deep interfaith relationships and to initiate change through waging peace. “Our movement now includes young women leading their own Teenage Chapters.”

    The day-long event culminated in a panel discussion moderated by American comedian and host of SiriusXM Progress The Dean Obeidallah Show, the only daily national radio show hosted by a Muslim American. Panelists included author of the recently released Adnan’s Story Rabia Chaudry, founder of Ms. magazine Letty Cottin Pograbin, founding President of the Women’s Initiative for Self-Empowerment (WISE) Rana Abdelhamid and the Executive Director of the Sisterhood Sheryl Olitzky.

    When asked what was her hope for the future of the organization, Olitzky said: “when we are no longer needed.”  

    If membership growth is any indication, they are a long way from reaching that goal. The tripling of Sisterhood Chapters and their online communities reflect a burning need to continue this work.

    “We have over a thousand women still on a waiting list and are expanding by the minute. We are not just a group anymore, we are a movement!” says Olitzky.

    Media Contact:​
    ​Sheryl Olitzky​
    Phone: 609-306-1221​
    ​Email: sheryl@sosspeace.org

    Source: Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Promoting Interfaith Understanding at the Scientology European Human Rights Office

    Promoting Interfaith Understanding at the Scientology European Human Rights Office

    [ad_1]

    The Church of Scientology European Public Affairs and Human Rights Office in Brussels hosts programs to bridge the divide between religions and promote understanding

    Press Release
    –


    updated: May 18, 2017


    Brussels, Belgium, May 16, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
     Celebrating diversity in the seat of the European Union, the Church of Scientology European Public Affairs and Human Rights Office promotes understanding through interfaith activities.

    2017 is a very significant year for Western religion as it marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation — Martin Luther’s October 31, 1517, posting of the 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. To promote a better understanding of this event and the history and impact of Protestantism, the Office organized an interfaith workshop by a pastor of the Protestant Liberal Church May 4, hosted by the Brussels branch of the Churches of Scientology for Europe.

    A few days later, the Church held an interfaith service for 41 master’s students from a Flemish university. The service was conducted by Rev. Marc Bromberg, who coordinates the Office’s interfaith and scholastic activities.

    Rev. Bromberg spoke of a basic Scientology belief — that we are all immortal spiritual beings whose experience transcends a single lifetime. He read the essay “Personal Integrity” by L. Ron Hubbard that begins, “What is true for you is what you have observed yourself. And when you lose that, you have lost everything.” He stressed that nothing in Scientology is true for you unless you have observed it yourself.

    He also spoke of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program, created by Mr. Hubbard, whose members are charged with helping to instill “conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling … trust, decency, honesty and tolerance” and restoring “purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.”

    He ended with the Creed of the Church of Scientology, which asserts the values of respect for the beliefs of others:

    We of the Church believe

    That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights.

    That all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices and their performance.”

    …

    That Man is basically good.

    That he is seeking to Survive.

    That his survival depends upon himself and upon his fellows and his attainment of brotherhood with the Universe.

    The service was followed by brunch, a question-and-answer period and a tour of the Church.

    The Church of Scientology European Public Affairs and Human Rights Office is located at the Brussels branch of the Churches of Scientology for Europe at Boulevard de Waterloo 103 in Brussels, which was opened in January 2010. An Ideal Scientology Organization, the Church is configured to provide the full services of the Scientology religion to its parishioners, while also serving the community with social betterment and outreach programs.

    Source: ScientologyNews.org

    [ad_2]

    Source link